Court remands two over robbery

Accra, March 12, – Two persons were on Monday remanded by an Accra Circuit Court over allegedly conspiring and robbing one Joana Bingham, a British National, of her backpack and hand bag containing her valuables.

The two, Issah Abubakar, Rider, 22 years; and Joseph Lartey, Fisherman, 37 years; forcibly took the bag containing a laptop, phone, documents and an unspecified amount of money at Osu, in Accra.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to both charges. But the court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, remanded them into custody to reappear on March 26.

Superintendent Patience Mario, Prosecuting, told the court that the complainant was a British National and Analyst, resident at the Ringway Estates, Osu, while Issah was an Okada rider from Jamestown, and Joseph, a fisherman from Prampram.

She said on March 1, at about 2000 hours, the complainant was going home from town. On her way, she met the two accused persons and one other now at large, on an unregistered motor bike.

She said the two and their accomplice, on seeing the complainant, stopped.

Issah and Joseph then got off the motorbike, rushed on the complainant and forcibly took her backpack containing her laptop, phone and some documents, and her hand bag containing an unspecified amount of money.

The Prosecution said the two thereafter jumped onto the motor bike and took off. The complainant, subsequently, raised the alarm, which attracted people to the scene.

Superintendent Mario said the people chased the suspects and in their bid to escape, they were knocked down by an on-coming motorist.

When they realised, that they were in danger, their accomplice on the run, pulled out a machete and a pistol and gave warning shots to scare the people, who were getting closer to them.

She told the court that, the suspects then abandoned the motor, and started running towards different directions.

But, they were pursued by the people and Issah and Joseph were arrested at different places, while the third person managed to escape with the handbag that contained the money.

According to the Prosecution, while they were running, Joseph threw the backpack, which was picked and handed over to the complainant.

The two, together with the motor bike, were sent to the Osu Police Station, where the complainant made a formal complainant.

GNA