The Circuit Court in Accra, presided over by Mr Kwabena Kodua Obiri-Yeboah, has remanded three men accused of armed robbery, following a strong objection to their bail by the prosecution.
The trio, identified as Peter Amuzu (alias Master Pee), Isaac Brena Eshun (aka Young) and Ibrahim Mohammed (aka King Dawa) are charged with conspiring to rob a banker, Karyen Afriyie Gabriel at gunpoint.
During the court hearing on September 25, 2024 the accused denied the charges and requested bail.
However, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah argued that their release could pose a flight risk and increase the likelihood of further offenses.
ASP Haligah detailed the allegations, revealing that Amuzu, whilst previously incarcerated for another robbery, recruited Eshun to assist in future criminal activities.
The pair, armed with a pistol, reportedly attacked Karyen Gabriel on August 19, 2024 stealing her Mercedes Benz C180 and a handbag containing valuable items, including cash and personal documents.
Following the robbery, Eshun was apprehended, leading to the recovery of stolen items and the identification of Amuzu and Mohammed as accomplices.
The investigation also uncovered links to another robbery involving a Toyota Fortuner, which had been sold to Mohammed.
Mr. Obiri-Yeboah ruled to remand the suspects in custody until October 9, 2024 as the police continue to pursue a fourth suspect, known as Kwame, believed to possess the weapon used in the crimes.
The prosecution emphasised the seriousness of the charges and the potential consequences, should the accused be released on bail.
Presenting the facts in court, ASP Haligah stated that Amuzu is a self-proclaimed steel bender living at American House, near East Legon in Accra. Eshun is a driver from Takoradi in the Western Region and Mohammed is a businessman residing at Gurugu in the Northern Region.
In March 2024, while on remand in a police cell at Madina for a separate robbery charge, Amuzu recruited Eshun, who was also incarcerated for a theft offense. They plotted to carry out a robbery upon their release.
On August 19, 2024 Amuzu and Eshun, armed with a pistol, assaulted the complainant at the entrance of her home.
Amuzu ordered the complainant at gunpoint to come down from her car, a Mercedes Benz C180 with registration number AA199121 valued 60,000 Euros equivalent to GH¢1,045738.00.
She obliged for fear of losing her life. Eshun quickly took charge of the steering wheel of the car and they drove it away from the scene alongside the complainant’s hand bag, containing a German passport, 3 iPhones valued at GH¢44,629.43, Ghana card, ATM cards, health insurance card, cash to the sum of US$1500 USD, GH¢16,000.00 and an unspecified amount of Jamaican Dollars.
A few days later, Eshun took the car to Tamale, on the instructions of Amuzu to sell same to Mohammed, who had also accepted to buy same.
Amuzu made cash transfer of GH¢10,000.00 to Eshun’s mobile money account, 0550571605, as part payment. Mohammed then removed the registered number plate from the car to conceal its identity.
On August 22, Eshun was arrested at Dansoman and a search conducted on him led to the retrieval of one gold coloured iPhone 14 Promax, Samsung Galaxy A15, air pods, the sum of GH¢18,000.00, $101USD, 4000 Uganda shillings, 400 Rwanda franc, 550 Jamaican Dollars and other personal effects belonging to the complainant. Eshun admitted the offence and mentioned Al (Amuzu) as his accomplice.
On 23/08/24, Al was arrested at American house, near East Legon, where an iPhone 13 Promax belonging to the complainant’s friend, Mansour Inusah, a witness in this case was retrieved from him. Al admitted to the offence and mentioned A3 as his old friend in Tamale whom he had instructed A2 to send the car to.
On August 24, 2024 Mohammed was also arrested in Tamale in possession of complainant’s Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Fortuna 4X4 with registration No GX2735-19.
Mohammed asserted that he also bought the Toyota Fortuner 4X4 from Amuzu and his friend, called Kwame, in the month of February 2024.
Investigation further revealed that the rightful owner of the Toyota Fortuner 4X4 was shot and robbed by Amuzu and his accomplice, Kwame in another robbery case at Lakeside estate.
During the investigation, Mohammed admitted that he gave Amuzu an amount of GH¢7,000.00 to be used to procure a gun, which was used in the robbery four days before their arrest.
He acknowledged making a payment of GH¢10,000.00 toward the GH¢300,000.00 price for the stolen Mercedes Benz.
On August 31, Eshun and Mohammed led the police to a location in Techiman where they had discarded the complainant’s personal belongings.
The retrieved items included a German passport, ATM cards, a Ghana card, and other documents belonging to the complainant.
The accused were charged with the offenses and brought before the court.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to apprehend Kwame, who is believed to be in possession of the weapon used in the crimes.
