Shock At Armed Robber�s Death

THE ENTIRE Ho, the Volta regional capital, was thrown into shock and sorrow when residents and relatives heard about the death of George Buame Klen, one of the two notorious armed robbers shot by the Police last Friday in Accra. Those who sympathised with the deceased did so on account of what they termed �his generosity�. George, described as a multi-millionaire, was said to own a business empire, out of which he supported a lot of residents. According to the Police, George Klen, 53, and his colleague Doku aka Mellow, 41, were on a robbery spree when they ran out of luck. Reports said they daringly engaged a police patrol team in a gun battle which they lost and subsequently met their untimely death. The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Atinga Bio, who briefed the media, said the police had a tip off about an ongoing robbery in the Airport Residential Area around �XL Drinking Spot�, also near Nyaho Clinic in Accra. On seeing the police, the robbers, who wielded locally-manufactured guns, opened fire, to which the police responded. Their attempt to escape in an ash-coloured Nissan saloon car with registration number GW4635-09 was however unsuccessful as the vehicle ran into a ditch after the driver lost control due to a gunshot wound. The two robbers died of gunshot injuries en route to the Police Hospital for treatment. Back in Ho, where George Klen, whose real name is George Korsi Buame Kley hailed, the news shocked many of his relatives. According to residents, until the newspapers carried the story yesterday, they never believed it was their own brother and son who had been shot dead. Others immediately started mourning Buame, as he was affectionately called by friends and relatives. Many of those who mourned the robber said he was a very generous and kind person. To them, his death would have a toll on them, as they depended on him for many things, especially money. The news of Buame�s death also sparked rumours and arguments in Ho as to how with all his wit, skill and bravado, he had been gunned down. Some relatives and friends of Buame indicated that he had been known as a criminal for over 30 years, but he made them believe he had turned over a new leaf long ago and was currently doing genuine business. He was said to own a restaurant at Gomoa Nyanyano, off the Winneba road and also other stores and businesses across the country. It was gathered that he had a three-storey multipurpose structure currently under construction in Ho, along the Akpenamawu road near the central lorry station. The land on which the structure stands is behind �Light House,� where his late father used to live. The structure, which is about 50% complete, includes residential apartments, office spaces, stores and other business spaces. The millionaire robber was also described as a philanthropist and a very generous person who helped many people in Ho by providing them with jobs, money and other items. Daily Guide�s interactions with some residents in Ho revealed that Buame came from a family with alleged records of notoriety and robbery. He had been in and out of prison, earning the nick name �Jail Bird�. His late father, Mr. Kley, also reportedly had a frosty relationship with the police prior to his death in the late 80s. His sister, Benedicta Kley, was an alleged notorious swindler who died in police custody in March this year. She got a grand burial attended mostly by people believed to be from the underworld. During the burial, there was an influx of luxurious vehicles in Ho. It was also believed that two of his brothers were also in one nefarious business or the other. The two, whose whereabouts were currently unknown, were expected in town to make arrangements for their brother�s funeral, a source close to the family said. He added that feverish arrangements were being made towards a grand burial for Buame. Meanwhile, a delegation has already been sent to Accra to claim the body for burial.