A Police Officer, a freelance Journalist, and a Lecturer have been remanded into Police custody for one week by an Accra Circuit Court on allegations of robbery.
The accused individuals jointly robbed an Indian businessmen of GHC700,000.00, USD56,450.00, and several electronic devices, including iPhones, Infinix phones, and laptops, as well as four Indian passports.
Four Indian passports, laptops, six mobile phones, and cash totaling GHC 595,665.00 and USD 45,140.00 were found after their detention, according to the prosecution, which was led by Police Inspector Ebenezer Teye-Okuffo.
The case was proceeded to August 3, 2023 by the court, which was presided over by Mrs. Kizita Naa Koowa Quarshie but did not accept their arguments. The trial court further mandated that the complainants receive access to the recovered objects.
According to the prosecution, the complainants were Indian businessmen residing in Osu, and on July 19, 2023, the accused, including a Police Officer in uniform, presented themselves as a Special Investigation team and proceeded to handcuff the complainants before robbing them at their home.
The Police Officer was identified during the robbery and arrested. He confessed to the crime and led the police to his house, where they retrieved a sum of GH₵185,105.00 and USD22,500.00.
Further investigations led to the arrest of the journalist and the lecturer, both of whom also confessed to the crime. The journalist claimed that the complainants were involved in money laundering, which motivated their actions.
During a search of the journalist’s room, GH₵63,800.00 cash was found, which she admitted was her share of the booty. She then led the Police team to her friend at Teshie to retrieve GH₵242,100.00 and USD18,640.00.
Similarly, the lecturer was tracked and arrested, confessing to the crime. He led the team to his house, where they retrieved GH₵64,920.00 and USD2,000.00.
The accused individuals also demonstrated to the Police how they successfully carried out the robbery at the crime scene, and videos of the act were found on the journalist’s laptop.
After the robbery, the accused persons shared the stolen items at the private residence of the Police Officer in La.
In total, the Police retrieved a sum of GH₵595,665.00 and USD45,140.00 from the accused individuals and retained them as exhibits for the court case.