‘Cop Robbed Me’
The owner of a supermarket at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region which was allegedly robbed by a police corporal, Raymond Amegashie and his three accomplices has insisted that the police officer was among those who robbed her amidst sporadic firing of gunshots.
According to her, she took a very close look at the police corporal when he and another accomplice came to her shop and ordered her to go inside after firing warning shots.
Ellen Asante, the shop owner who is the first prosecution witness, under cross-examination by Paul Abariga, counsel for the police cop told the court that the accused officer came to her shop wielding an AK 47 so she took a very good look at him.
Raymond Amegashie, a police corporal and his three accomplices Ibrahim Ayirebo, motor rider; Bright Dorkanu, mechanic and Stanley Akorli, driver, allegedly robbed a supermarket at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region on December 12, 2017.
The police officer on the night of the robbery reportedly abandoned his post at Glotec Ghana Limited where he was detailed for guard duty – with his AK47 rifle with 20 rounds of ammunition.
They allegedly made away with GH?45,000 and US$1,000.
Corporal Raymond Amegashie, who is with the Tema SWAT Unit – believed to be the leader of the robbery gang, managed to escape after the robbery incident but was later arrested at Tsopoli barrier on his way to the Volta Region.
His lawyer during cross-examination consistently reiterated his client’s innocence saying he was on duty on the night of the alleged robbery and checked out the next day and handed over his rifle with all the ammunitions intact.
He said the cop could therefore not be part of those who robbed her if indeed the robbery took place.
The prosecution witness, however, rejected the lawyer’s assertions, insisting that he was part of those who robbed her and he was even the one who took the container which had the money in it and took it to the taxi that they came with.
The lawyer then put it to the witness that if indeed Corporal Amegashie and Ayeribo ordered her to go inside she would have been gripped by fear and therefore could not take a close look at the robbers.
But the witness told the court that she is a business woman and she is not afraid unless there is firing of gunshots.
The judge then asked Ayeribo and Dorkanu who are without lawyers whether they had any questions to ask and they all put it to the witness that they were not part of the alleged robbery but the witness rejected their claims and insisted they were all part of the crime.
Lawyer for Stanley Akorli, Mr. Oppong during his cross-examination also put it to the witness that his client was not part of the alleged robbery as she did not see his face.
The witness said she did not see his face during the robbery but got to know he was the one when he was arrested by the police.
The presiding judge, Mr. Aboagye Tandoh adjourned the matter to February 12, 2018 for the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu to present its second witness.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak