I don’t have money to buy food - Suspected cop cries in court
One of the policemen who were allegedly involved in the robbing of a bullion van which ended up in the killing of the driver of the van at Maame Krobo in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District in the Eastern Region says he is fasting because he did not have money to buy food.
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Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwah yesterday informed the Accra Central District Court that he had resorted to fasting because of his “dire financial situation’’ as a result of the confiscation of his money after his arrest.
He, therefore, prayed the court to help him get access to his money or his bank account to enable him to buy food.
“I have money in my account and I would like to get access to it or I will need an ATM to withdraw some of the money to buy food,’’ he said.
No access
In view of the accused person’s revelation, the magistrate, Mr Stephen Owusu, asked the investigator handling the case why Lance Corporal Abrokwah had not been given access to his money.
That was after the investigator had informed the court that the money and the accused person’s personal belongings seized after the alleged incident were not part of the investigations.
Answering the question, the investigator said the bag containing Lance Corporal Abrokwah’s money and personal effects was with a Deputy Superintendent in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service but the officer was currently on a 10-month training course in Italy.
“Are you saying that until the officer comes back from his training course the accused person cannot get access to his money to enable him to buy food?’’ the magistrate asked.
He then ordered the police to provide Lance Corporal Abrokwah food or access to his money to buy food.
“He should be given food on a regular basis or access to his money to buy food,’’ he said
Another sick
Meanwhile, the other accused policeman, Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah, has been admitted to the Police Hospital because of a reported illness.
The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Abraham Annor, made this known at yesterday’s hearing.
He also revealed that the ballistic report on the gun used to commit the alleged crime was almost ready.
“The docket will, therefore, be forwarded to the CID for onward transfer to the Attorney-General’s Department,’’ he announced.
The case was adjourned to October 31, 2016.
Charge
Corporal Mensah, Lance Corporal Abrokwah and Hafisu Muhammad, a taxi driver, are also alleged to have injured the policeman escorting the bullion van.
The three have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, while the two policemen are separately charged with murder and attempted robbery.
Apart from the case in Accra, the trio are also standing trial at the Mpraeso Circuit Court for allegedly escaping from lawful custody after they had been arrested following their alleged robbery operation.
They have pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy and escape from lawful custody.
Facts
The facts of the case, as presented by DSP Annor, are that the bullion van belonging to the GCB Bank normally visited Donkokrom to supply money to the branch of the bank there.
On August 16, 2016, he said, Corporal Mensah and Lance Corporal Abrokwah, who were stationed at the GN Bank and the GCB Bank, respectively, decided to rob the van and take the money in it.
“This plan was discussed with Muhammad, a taxi driver and mechanic who is a friend of the two. Hafisu drove his taxi towards Ekye Amanfrom to monitor the arrival of the van,” he said.
According to the prosecutor, the two policemen, armed with AK 47 assault rifles, waylaid the van.
“About 20 minutes later, Hafisu signalled the policemen and, on seeing the bullion van, they opened fire, killing the driver of the van.
“A police guard on board the van got injured but he managed to return fire, compelling the two policemen to flee into the bush,” DSP Annor explained.
The prosecutor added that the two policemen called Hafisu, who picked them in a bid to escape.
“Information about the incident got to the police at Donkokrom and they mobilised men who managed to arrest the three persons,’’ he said.