Man, 40, in police grip for attempted car snatching

A 40-YEAR-OLD man is in the grip of the police for allegedly spraying some liquid substance suspected to be acid in the face of a taxi driver in an attempt to snatch his car.

The suspect, identified as Daniel Quaye, is said to have used an enema bulb syringe (bentoa) in his diabolical act after hiring the services of the taxi from Tema Community 10 to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. 

The police retrieved a plastic bag containing a rope, a knife, a piece of wood, two bottles containing acid and the enema bulb syringe from the suspect.

 Quaye is said to have admitted that he was going to use the items to facilitate the robbery.

Accusation 

The Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Timothy Yoosa Bonga, said after Quaye had sprayed the substance on the driver, he (the driver) took to his heels. 

Quaye then pursued, all along shouting: ‘Julor! Julor!’, a Ga word for thief.

The victim also began telling onlookers that his pursuer was rather the thief who wanted to snatch his taxi from him.

The scene, which attracted some residents of the area, led to the arrest of the two persons who were both handed over to the police.

During interrogations, Mr Bonga said, the police found out that Quaye had hired the Toyota Corrolla taxi, with registration number ER2369 -11, from the Tema Community 10 Junction to Korle-Bu in Accra for a fare of GHc50.

On the way to Korle Bu, Quaye asked the driver to stop for him to use the restroom at a location near the Tema Station in Accra.

Mr Bonga said Quaye spent over one hour in the restroom, only to return with a plastic bag, before they continued the journey to Korle Bu, where the suspect claimed he was to meet his master who would pay the fare.

While at Korle Bu, Quaye was said to have asked the driver to take him to the Nurses Training School area but the driver refused, since the road was blocked. 

Confusion 

While they argued over the route, Mr Bonga said, Quaye pulled out the enema bulb syringe from the plastic bag he was carrying and sprayed the substance directly into the driver’s face.

The driver, he said, quickly rushed out of the taxi but he was pursued by Quaye, who shouted after the driver that he (driver) was a thief.

Residents who were attracted by Quaye’s shouts were left confused as Quaye pretended to be the owner of the taxi and pointed at the victim as the robber who wanted to steal the taxi from him.

Mr Bonga said Quaye initially denied committing the offence but later admitted his offence and told the police during investigations that the content of the plastic bag was intended to be used to snatch the car from the driver.

Writer’s email:emelia.ennin@graphic.com.gh