Alleged Armed Robbery Sponsor Refused Bail

An Accra circuit court, presided over by Francis Obiri has refused to grant bail to Mary Komabu, alias Newtown Mama, the alleged financier of a group of armed robbers, who robbed and killed the Madina Melcom branch security man and Police Constable Prince Charles Akata, although the application was done on the grounds of ill health. The court also remanded the nine remaining accused persons into prisons custody, to reappear on January 26, 27 and 28 for hearing. The nine accused persons involved in the case include; Isaac Kwasi Boadi, Kwame Anokye, Amos Bortey Borketey, Isaac Addo Mensah, Yaw Richard, Sylvester Otwe, Akwasi Bentum, Mary Komabu, Feyi Stephen and Evelyn Dorsu, all pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against them. Seven of the accused persons namely; Isaac Kwasi Boadi, Kwame Anokye, Amos Bortey Borketey, Isaac Addo Mensah, Yaw Richard, Sylvester Otwe and Akwasi Bentum were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery contrary to sections 23(1) and 149 of Act 29/60 and attempted to commit robbery contrary to sections 18(1) and 149 of Act 29/60. The two others; Feyi Stephen and Evelyn Dorsu were also charged with abetment of crime and escaping lawful custody, contrary to sections 20(1) and 226(1) of Act 29/60. The court further charged the alleged financier, Mary Komabu, alias Newtown Mama, with abetment of crime and robbery contrary to sections 20(1) and 149 of Act 29/60. Presenting the facts of the case before the court, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Atimbilla said the complainants in this case are managers of companies that deal in various electrical appliances and general commodities. The seven accused persons and four others, now at large, are notorious armed robbers who have been terrorizing law abiding citizens within Madina, Weija, Kasoa and the Tema metropolis. He continued that on December 9, 2014, the seven accused persons and four others, at large, attacked the Madina branch of Melcom at about 1:58 am, shot and killed the security officer at post, Emmanuel Torsu, and subsequently broke into the supermarket. The accused persons succeeded in robbing a flat screen television set valued at GHc5,800 and a number of phones which value are yet to be ascertained, and bolted. On January 6, 2015, the Accra Regional Police Command had intelligence report that the seven accused persons, and the four at large, had armed themselves with pistols and vehicles to rob at Weija and Abeka-Lapaz respectively. A team of Policemen were detailed to intercept and counter their intended purpose, ACP Atimbilla explained. According to the Prosecutor, the team of policemen proceeded to Weija, where they spotted first accused, including Ike Ofori and Yaw Amponsah now deceased, and two others, now at large, on board a Ford Bus heading towards Kasoa. ACP Atimbilla added that, the police followed them gradually but the accused persons noticed them and quickly made a U-turn towards Accra. He said the Police continued to follow them until they reached Bortiano junction, where they started shooting at the Police, and they sadly managed to hit one Constable Prince Charles Akata. The Police then returned fire and succeeded in gunning down Ike Ofori and Yaw Amponsah, whilst the rest managed to escape with gunshot wounds. ACP Atimbilla observed that, Constable Prince Charles Akata, Ike Ofori and Yaw Amponsah were rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, but were pronounced dead upon arrival. He added that, the Police team then proceeded to Abeka-Lapaz and managed to arrest the seven accused persons. The Police also made a media publication to the general public to assist them to arrest anybody found with gunshot wounds trying to seek medical attention or report to the police. ACP Atimbilla, further said during investigations, it came to light that Mary Komabu, alias Newtown Mama, was the person who normally sponsors the armed robbers financially, and when they return the booty is sold to her, which lead to her arrest. Again the regional police had information that, first accused, who also had gunshot wounds was being assisted by his wife, Evelyn Dorsu, to get herbal treatment from Feyi Stephen, who is a herbalist at a village called Asuboi, along the Accra-Kumasi highway. The Police further had information that Isaac Kwasi Boadi, after receiving first aid from Feyi Stephen, escaped with his wife to a village called Kwashie, near Asamankese. The Police proceeded to the village and arrested the man and his wife, ACP Atimbilla asserted.