Cop Killers Charged

Seven of the gang of robbers who exchanged fire with a team of police officers at Weija in Accra last week resulting in the death of Constable Prince Charles Akata have been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for robbery. The accused persons are Issac Kwasi Boadi, aka KK, unemployed; Kwame Anokye, aka Tagor, driver�s mate; Amos Bortey Borketey, driver; Isaac Addo Mensah, aka Almera; Yaw Richard, aka Opuni, driver; Sylvester Otwe, driver�s mate and Kwasi Bentum, farmer. Charges They are facing a three count charge of conspiracy, robbery and attempted robbery each. All seven accused persons are said to have on December 9, 2014 at Madina, a suburb of Accra, robbed Melcom Company of two big flat screen television sets valued at GH�5,800 and an unspecified number of mobile phones whose value is yet to be known. The accused persons, according to the prosecutor ACP Rtd Moses Atibilla, on December 6, 2014 at Weija attempted to rob contrary to Section 18 (1) & 149 of ACT 29/60. Others Also before the court are Mary Komabu, aka New Town Madam, Feyi Stephen and Evelyn Dorson. In the case of New Town Madam, the police officer said that between the months of December 2014 and January 2015 in Tema, she aided and abetted the seven robbers to rob. Remand Appearing before trial judge Francis Obiri, the accused persons denied any wrongdoing and were remanded to reappear on January 26, 2015. An application for bail on the grounds of ill-health filed by Kodzo Dua, counsel for New Town Madam, was rejected by the trial judge. Facts Briefing the court, the prosecutor said the complainants in this case are managers of companies that deal in various electrical appliances and general commodities while the accused persons and four others now at large are notorious armed robbers who are terrorising law abiding citizens within Madina, Weija, Kasoa and Tema metropolis. ACP Atibilla stated that at about 1:58 am on December 9, 2014, the accused persons and the four others now at large attacked Melcom Company Stores at Madina, shot and killed the security officer, one Emmanuel Torsu, and broke into the store. He said they managed to steal the aforementioned items and bolted, adding that on January 6, 2015 the Accra Regional Police Command gathered intelligence that the accused persons and the four others now on the run had armed themselves with pistols to rob at Weija and Abeka-Lapaz respectively. As a result, a team of policemen was detailed to intercept and counter their intended operation. The prosecutor indicated that the policemen proceeded to Weija where they spotted KK, Ike Ofori and Yaw Ampomah, now deceased, and two others now at large on board a Ford Bus heading towards Kasoa. He said the police followed them gradually but the accused persons noticed them and quickly made a u-turn towards Accra. He indicated that the police followed them and when they got to Bortiano junction, they started shooting at the police and a bullet hit one Constable Prince Charles Akata. ACP Atibilla stated that the police returned fire and also hit Ofori and Ampomah whilst the rest managed to escape with gunshot wounds. Constable Prince Charles Akata, Ofori and Ampomah were rushed to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival. He further told the court that the team proceeded to Abeka- Lapaz and managed to arrest Tagor, Borketey, Almera, Opuni, Otwe and Bentum, adding that the police then made a media publication to the general public to assist in arresting anybody found with gunshot wounds trying to seek medical treatment or report to the police. ACP Atibilla indicated that during investigations, it came to light that New Town Madam was the person who normally sponsored the armed robbers financially and that whenever they returned she sold their booty for them. She was consequently arrested for her part in the gang�s criminal activities. The prosecutor said the Regional Police Command had information that KK, who had gunshot wounds, was being assisted by his wife Dorson to get herbal treatment from Stephen at a village called Asuboi. He added that the police gathered that KK after taking first aid from Stephen escaped with Dorson to a village called Kwashie near Asamankese where they were arrested. According to the prosecutor, investigations are still ongoing.