Kwabenya fugitives: Third prosecution witness testifies
The fourth prosecution witness in the case in which some armed men freed inmates at the Kwabenya Police Station after an attack on the station, killing a Police Officer on duty, on Monday appeared before the court
Lance Corporal Richard Amoakohene in his evidence in chief told the court that he resides at Lapaz and is stationed at the National Police Headquarters. He also said he knew the first accused Prince Osei.
He said on January 16, he was on patrol duty with a team of police officers conducting their normal duties when they stopped a Nissan Urvan mini bus and decided to conduct a search in the bus.
He said during the search, Prince came out of the vehicle and removed a handkerchief from his pocket, so he asked him to open it, and when he did, he found six cartridges in the handkerchief.
The witness said he arrested Prince to the patrol car and when they conducted further search he found a locally manufactured pistol on him, which he claimed ownership.
Lance Corporal Amoakohene said Prince, told him that there were two other accomplices in the bus, so he took him back to the bus to identify his accomplices.
“He pointed them out to me, so they were all arrested and sent to the Kwabenya police station. After the necessary investigations, we submitted our statements.”
During cross examination, Prince asked the witness whether he (Prince), was the one who showed him the gun or he found it on him, but the witness maintained that he was the one who found the gun on him when he searched him.
Prince also asked the witness whether he was the one who gave him the handkerchief or drivers mate, and he answered that, it was Prince who was holding the handkerchief so he asked him to open it.
He told the witness that he was not being truthful to the court, but Mr Amoakohene maintained that what he had told the court was the truth.
Counsel for Nancy Denta and George Asante, Mr Augustine Gyamfi asked the witness how many officers were on the patrol team, and what time Prince was arrested, and he answered they were five on the team, and Prince was arrested around 2330 hours.
Counsel for Elvis Owusu and Theophilus Banda, Mr Dela Blagodzi, asked how long the witness has been in the police service and he said six years six months.
When asked where the other two he said he arrested together with Prince were, he told the court that they were not part of the accused.
Meanwhile George Yeboah, Prince Kofi Achempong, Edward Lartey, Kofi Seshie, and George Sarbah, who were not represented in court today, told the court that they had no questions to ask the witness. He was therefore discharged.
The prosecution said they have one more witness to call in addition to Lance Corporal Robert Owusu, and Lance Corporal Samira Mohammed, and Lance Corporal Richard Amoakohene.
At the previous sitting the case was adjourned to April 16. When the case was called, the prosecution who was expected to present its third witness told the court that the witness was not available, and prayed the court for an adjournment.
The facts of the case as presented by Prosecution led by Superintendent of Police, Kweku Bempah were that, the complainants are Policemen stationed at Kwabenya District Police station.
Prince Osei, 25, is a scrap dealer living at Glefe Dansoman; Atta Kwadwo, 20, is a driver; and Kofi Darko, 25 also a trader living at Glefe, Dansoman.
Nancy is 28 and lives at Dome; and George Yeboah is 30 and lives around the Graphic Road.
Prince Kofi Acheampong is 32 and lives at Afienya; Edward Lartey is 20 and lives at Tema Newtown; Kofi Seshie is 28, George Sarbah is 23, Elvis is 31, George Asante is 33, and Theophilus is 25.
Mr Bempah said on January 21, at about 0130 hours, a gang of armed men numbering six attacked the Kwabenya Police station and freed their colleagues who were being held in detention for various violent crimes.
He told the court that in execution of their plan, the assailants proceeded to the station whilst two of them who pretended to have a complaint to lodge, entered the charge office and told the counter Non-Commission Officer (NCO) that someone borrowed money from them and had refused to pay back.
The counter NCO No. 43225 G/Cpl. Robert Owusu advised them to seek a redress at the civil court since the case they were reporting was civil matter, the two then signalled the rest, who had laid ambush within the premises, and launched an attack on the Policemen at the charge office.
The prosecution said they shot Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi, who was on duty as a Monitoring Officer on the right buttocks, held the counter NCO, his counter orderly, the charge office guard, and the night investigator hostages.
He said they took the keys to the cells and released seven of the inmates, namely, Chibuzor Akwuba, Emmanuel Kotey, Rockson Edem Dzigbede, Dickson Ofori, Prince Osei, Attah Kwadwo, and Kofi Darko.
After the armed attack, the assailants fled the scene, the NCO and the night Investigator arranged for an ambulance and rushed Inspector Ashilevi to the Police Hospital for treatment, but they were referred to the 37 Military Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mr Bempah told the court that, Police intelligence, led to the arrest of George Yeboah, who assisted Prince Osei and Attah Kwadwo with GH¢200.00 to escape out of the jurisdiction.
He also gave GH¢40.00 to Kofi Darko to enable him escape from the jurisdiction.
He said on January 23, Police intelligence led to the arrest of Prince Osei and Attah Kwadwo at Worawora in the Volta Region.
Investigations also revealed that whiles in detention, on January 18, Prince Osei overheard the other inmates planning to escape.
According to the Police, in the evening on the same day, Nancy brought a mobile phone to Dickson in the cells, which he used to contact his people outside to execute the escape plan.
Rockson’s brother also brought a hacksaw blade to him by hiding it in bread to cut the padlocks to the cells but he could not do so.
He said upon interrogation, Prince Osei, said he stole a gun from Prince Kofi Acheampong.
He also revealed that Dickson and Chibuzor are Acheampong’s boys whom he normally sends out on robbery trips.
Mr Bempah said further investigations also revealed that it was Acheampong in collaboration with Dickson and Chibuzor who sent the armed men to attack and release them from the cells, which led to the death of the Inspector.
On January 25, at about 0200 hours, Acheampong was arrested together with Edward from their hideout at Afienya.
The prosecution said on January 27 at about 0230 hours, Attah led the Police to a house at Kasoa Nyanyano and pointed Kofi Seshie to the Police as one of the gang members who came to rescue them from the cells and also shot and killed the Inspector.
He said the rest are all suspected accomplices arrested to assist in police investigations.
Source: GNA