Armed robbery attack on Kan-Dapaah; Case adjourned to Nov 5

The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, has adjourned to November 5, 2013 the case of robbery carried out on a former Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah.

This was due to the absence of the prosecution in court.

The accused persons are Aaron Apau, Joseph Gato, Gabriel Donkor and Kofi Rabby, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to rob and robbery.

Evidence

Mr Kan-Dapaah, who was the first prosecution witness, had earlier been led in his evidence by a Chief State Attorney, Mr Rexford Wiredu in which he said the robbery occurred on September 6, 2012 after he had returned home from a television programme.

He said on reaching his house, he tooted his horn for the security guard to open the gate.

He said the security guard opened the gate and when he entered the house, he decided to pray for some seconds before stepping out of his car, adding that just as he was about to undertake that exercise, the front door of his car was forcibly opened.

“The person who opened the door pointed a gun at me,” he said.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said two more people joined the first man and one of them asked that he surrender, the money he had.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said upon asking “Which money?” one of the armed robbers ordered him to get out of the car and empty his pockets, which he obliged.

He said the armed robber continued to ask for more money, while another took his briefcase and ordered him to lie on the floor.

“ I found my security guard lying down too,” he said, adding that they then gave a number of warning shots.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said after answering yes to the robbers after they had asked if he had any more money to surrender, he gave them an envelope containing $1,000 which was an accountable impress to Parliament, thinking that it would satisfy them.

Robbers wanted more

He said not satisfied, the robbers ordered him to take them to his bedroom, which he did.

“While in my bedroom, I told them that I had no money and so I would deposit money somewhere for them the next day, but they refused,” he added.

He said the armed robbers told him that they were aware of his huge balance at the Merchant Bank and he told them it was not true.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said, among other items that they collected his laptop, his wife’s jewellery and his mobile phone.

He said his briefcase was given to him after its contents had been emptied and he was warned not to talk to the police and the press.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said while he was being taken through the ordeal by the armed robbers, his phone was mistakenly dialled and it called the former Palestinian Ambassador who, being suspicious that something might have gone wrong with the caller, rang the National Security Co-ordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (retd).

He said immediately Col Gbevlo-Lartey called, the armed robbers took to their heels.

The security co-ordinator asked him to be calm and within minutes, he sent soldiers and police personnel to the house to help the traumatised MP.

Background

A gang of robbers, on September 6, 2013, attacked and robbed Mr Kan-Dapaah at his Dansoman-Sahara residence at gunpoint, taking away money and valuable items.

The gang, numbering four, wielding guns, knives and other offensive weapons, took away a laptop, a mobile phone, jewellery belonging to his wife, a licensed pistol and $1,000.

The suspects, who had trailed the victim from a distance, entered his yard immediately the security man in the house opened the main gate.

The gang initially took two of his mobile phones but later returned one, saying that he was a “good man”.

By Michael Donkor/Daily Graphic/Ghana