The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, has remanded a military officer and four others, in connection with charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and robbery, involving a Dutch national.
The accused persons, including W.O.1 Elorm John Ahiakpor, a 50-year-old military officer stationed at Burma Camp, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The others are Silas Amewonye, 25, farmer; Farouk Nuodio, 32, trader; Daniel Kwesi Obiri Yeboah, aka Aljazeera, 49, trader; and Michael Nana Addo, 25, carpenter.
The accused faces multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit kidnapping, actual kidnapping and conspiracy to commit robbery under the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29).
Prosecutor ASP Kofi Anane presented that the complainant, Lodewijk Marinus Frederikus, a Dutch national, arrived in Ghana on October 17, 2024 to meet Silas Amewonye, whom he allegedly had a personal relationship with.
The accused, including Farouk Nuodio and Michael Nana Addo, lured the complainant to Alexis Lodge in Afienya and later to Amewonye’s residence.
On October 20, 2024 when the complainant expressed desire to leave the country due to suspicious behaviour by Amewonye and his accomplices, he was forcefully confined.
The group, including the military officer W.O.1 Ahiakpor, subsequently kidnapped him and demanded a ransom of €15,000.
After negotiations, the ransom was reduced to €8,000.
The complainant was forced to withdraw GH¢6,000 from a Stanbic Bank ATM at gunpoint while the accused awaited the €8,000 transfer.
Fortunately, the complainant managed to alert the police, leading to his rescue and the arrest of the accused individuals.
The accused admitted to the offences during police interrogation and they were charged accordingly.
The court adjourned the case to October 29, 2024 for further proceedings and investigation.
