Interpol grabs Nigerians for robberies and rapes

Crime and punishment of Thursday, September 17, 2020

Source: GNA

2020-09-17

A Nigerian who allegedly committed robberies and rapes with three other accomplices in Ghana and escaped has been brought before a circuit court in Accra.

Asuquo Mbuotidem Edem, also known as Faith, a businessman, was arrested at his hideout in Nigeria with the help of the International Police (INTERPOL) and escorted to Ghana to respond to his robberies and rape cases.

Edem, along with Damascus Israel Nana Akyene, a driver, while Daniel Akpan, aka Danny and Bassey Okon, both allegedly businessmen robbed a property developer and his family in Westlands.

Following Edem’s arrest, the prosecution further amended the charge sheet and the defendants were brought before the Court chaired by Ms. Afua Owusua Appiah.

The defendants have been charged with nine counts of conspiracy to commit the crime of theft, theft, conspiracy to commit a crime with illegal entry and possession of firearms, possession of instruments intended for illegal entry, illegal entry and possession of firearms without authorization. .

They pleaded not guilty. The court placed them in police custody to reappear on October 1.

The chief inspector of the prosecution, Simon Apiosormu, narrated that the complainants (reserved names) were a real estate developer, his wife and his sister-in-law. They all reside in the same house.

Chief Inspector Apiosornu said that Akyene resided in Kakraba while the rest of the defendants resided in Kwashieman in Accra.

On February 22 of last year, at around 12:30 a.m., the defendants made their way to Westlands, Accra. They armed themselves with pistols and other implements, including an industrial cutter, a metal bar, a cutlass, and entered the complainants’ home by scaling the wall.

The defendants ordered the complainants to hand over their valuables, including money, jewelry, wristwatches, cameras, and other personal effects or they would be shot.

The prosecution said that out of fear for their lives, the complainants agreed. Subsequently, the property developer was driven off at gunpoint and several cars looted.

In the process, they took the property developer’s Heckler pistol, GH ¢ 3,000.00 and USD 600 from the complainant’s Mercedes Benz.

The defendants took turns raping one of the victims in the home. The defendants were subsequently fired upon and the complainants reported the problem to Westlands Police.

The prosecution said on March 9 last year that the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department was conducting investigations into the arrest of Akyene, who is said to have been involved in another robbery and rape of six British nationals in Kokrobite.

After Akyene’s arrest, he admitted to the crime and led the police to Akpon and Okon’s home and they were arrested.

Akpon led the police to Edem’s home, but they were not available. During police interrogations, they confessed to the thefts and several incidents of rape, including the case of the property developer.

The defendants also led the police to the different homes of their victims, including the complainants.

The Prosecutor’s Office said that the complainants were invited to the Armed Anti-Theft Unit at CID headquarters.

During the investigations, the defendants revealed that they kept the various implements and weapons used to commit the robberies in a Haatso garbage dump.

The defendants led the police to the aforementioned landfill in a thicket on the Agbogba-Haatso highway, where they recovered three pistols, including the one from the complainants, and the implements they used to commit the various thefts.

The prosecution said that an identification parade was held at the CID headquarters on March 15 of last year and Akyene was identified.

On August 21 this year, the Prosecutor’s Office said that Edem, who was a fugitive, was arrested at his hideout in Nigeria with the help of INTERPOL and escorted to Ghana.