An Accra Circuit Court has remanded three drivers accused of conspiring to steal and kidnap a student.
Christopher Adjetey, Bernard Aminamah, and Aziz Abu, aka Azix Father, all rejected the charges. They will appear before the Court, presided over by Jojo Hagan, on March 26, 2024. Meanwhile, one Emmanuel, thought to be a member of the gang, is on the run.
The prosecutor, Police Chief Inspector Daniel Ofori-Appiah, stated that the complainant, Basilisa Esi Asangono, is a student and Darkuman resident.
Adjetey and Aminamah are Amanfrom drivers and Kasoa inhabitants, respectively. Abu, he added, was also a driver residing in Kaemebre, Kasoa.
On September 14, 2023, at around 10:00 pm, the complainant was waiting by the roadside to catch a taxi to Kasoa. They noticed a Nissan Versa taxicab with registration number GE: 4907 – 20, driven by Abu and carrying Adjetey and Aminamah, approaching. The complainant stopped the cab and informed the driver that they were heading to Kasoa before being allowed to board.
However, when they arrived in Kasoa, Abu refused to stop the cab and let the complainant alight. Instead, he continued driving towards Ngleshie Amanfrom and stopped at a location nearby.
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He said that Aminamah, who was seated next to the complainant, wanted her Phone 7, which was worth GHs6,500.00, and that when she refused, Adjetey slapped her and battered her severely.
He also threatened to murder her and took her phone, with Abu reportedly stabbing her in the back with a screwdriver.
According to the prosecution, Aminamah forcefully seized the complainant’s purse containing GHs900 and GHs600.00 on her second phone and handed it over to Abu.
Chief Inspector Ofori-Appiah stated that he then compelled the complainant to give her mobile phone account pin number, transferred the GHs600.00, and tossed the phone away.
The accused then asked that she phone someone and give a ransom of GHs10,000.00, or they would take her to a nearby river, murder her, and dump her body.
He said that the complainant was compelled to call a witness in the case for the ransom, and when she failed, she was subjected to further beatings.
Abu became enraged and attacked the complainant with a chain provided by Adjetey, causing injuries to her face and back.
The prosecution said that the accused purposely drove the complainant around, waiting for the ransom while torturing her.
When they arrived to Ngleshie Aman from Basic School, they were met by a police patrol squad and instructed to halt.
The prosecution informed the court that the accused and their accomplices failed to stop and sped away, prompting a chase that ended in an accident.
Abu, the Court was told, managed to flee while Adjetey and Aminamah were apprehended, and the exhibit—the chain, the iPhone, and the screwdriver—were recovered.
Chief Inspector Ofori-Appiah stated that the complainant filed a complaint and was given a medical paperwork to seek treatment.
Adjetey and Aminamah acknowledged the offense in front of an impartial witness, naming Abu and Emma as accomplices.
On October 23, 2023, the Central East Police Regional Headquarters got information that Emma and Abu were involved in a similar case; however, Emma escaped while Abu was apprehended and imprisoned; afterward, Abu was led to the Accra Regional CID and admonished.
According to the police, Adjetey, Aminamah, and Abu admitted to carrying out many robberies in Legon, Lapaz, Choice-Weija, and Ashaiman using the same method.
The prosecution stated that investigations were underway to apprehend all accomplices.