The suspects
SIX PERSONS arrested in connection with the robbery and killing of a Chinese at TT Quarry at Bundase near Prampram in the Ningo-Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region have been remanded by a District Court at Prampram.
They were put before the court presided over by John Evans Ocran and were given provisional charges of conspiracy and murder.
The pleas of the accused persons – Daniel Kodi, 40; Noah Sokpui, alias Bellboss, 29; Alhassan Issaka, alias Alazan, 20; Fuseini Hamidu, alias Fulani, 27; Sabastian Hukportie, 28; and Jacob Anyore, aka Taller, 32 – were not taken by the court and they were remanded in police custody until August 27.
They stand accused of robbing and killing 70-year-old Chinese, Yao Young Xiang.
One of the accused, Noah Sokpui hired the services of two lawyers but in spite of their plea, the court decline bail for him.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector John Mensah Sabbah told the court that the police were still investing the case and needed time to probe further. Scores of people including relatives and friends of the accused persons thronged the court premises yesterday.
The incident, according to the Prampram Divisional Crime Officer, Superintendent Cecilia Arko, occurred on April 1,2019 when police had information that at about 2:40 a.m. the suspected armed robbers attacked TT Quarry Company and killed Young Xiang Yao.
Crime scene investigation led to the discovery of two motorbikes which were abandoned in a nearby bush, she said. She said police investigation revealed that the unregistered motorbike retrieved at the scene was later registered as M-19-GT 1008 and the owner’s details were identified, resulting in his arrest.
The crime officer continued that the motorbike owner told the police that he gave the motorbike to one Noah Sokpui for commercial purpose after being warned to stop riding. He further told police that Noah called to inform him on the same date that the said motorbike had been stolen, but he later gathered that Noah was still in possession of the motorbike.
However, she said further investigation showed that Noah and other suspects went to rob the TT Quarry site and killed the Chinese.
Ms. Arko said the police later arrested all the suspects from their various hideouts and were in police custody.
From Vincent Kubi, Prampram