GRi in Court Ghana 09 - 03 - 2001
Investigate business permit of Soussoudis -
Tribunal
I could not identify those on Peugeot car -
Policeman
Investigate business permit of Soussoudis -
Tribunal
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 March 2001
An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Thursday ordered the prosecution to investigate the genuineness of a business permit purported to have been issued to Michael Agbotui Soussoudis by the Office of the former President.
The tribunal's order was given when Soussoudis appeared before it for possessing firearms without authority.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted 20 million cedis bail with two sureties to be justified. He will re-appear on March 29.
Soussoudis, an economist, was arrested at his residence on February 24 for possessing 15 assorted shotguns, six assorted pistols and a quantity of firearms.
Mr Amponsah Dadzie, counsel for the accused, told the tribunal that his client has permit covering his operations and said the charge is a misdemeanour.
"The accused will not run away and will not interfere with investigations," counsel said.
Prosecuting Chief Inspector Edward Antwi said the government in its effort to curb armed robbery, gave a moratorium for the public in possession of unregistered weapons to surrender them to the police.
The government's directive said there would be no punishment for those who voluntarily surrendered such weapons within the two-week moratorium.
Chief Inspector Antwi said after the moratorium had elapsed, the police and military mounted an operation code name "Operation Etuo Mu Ye Sum" to retrieve unregistered weapons believed to be in the system.
The prosecution said the team went to the accused person's residence and with his consent searched his rooms. During the search, 15 assorted shotguns, six assorted pistols and a quantity of assorted ammunition were retrieved.
He said investigations showed that the accused had renewed en bloc 43 firearms purported to be owned by him at the Cantonments Police Station on February 16, this year, ostensibly to beat the deadline of the moratorium.
Chief Inspector Antwi said this raised suspicion that the accused person had more weapons in his possession. A search was then mounted on February 28 again at his residence and a shotgun, one double barrel gun, one USSR air gun, and a pistol were retrieved
Soussoudis has produced permits covering 13 assorted guns and seven pistols, leaving three guns, which are not covered, prosecution said.
GRi…/
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I could not identify those on Peugeot car -
Policeman
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 March 2001
Constable John Mensah of the Cantonments Police Station on Thursday told an Accra High Court that he could not identify any of the people on board a Peugeot caravan that crossed their convoy in the highway robbery on February 16, 1999.
During cross-examination by Mr E.E. Annan, counsel for Isaac Frimpong, alias Nii Baby Tei, one of the seven accused persons facing trial in the gold robbery case, Constable Mensah said because the two armed men who alighted from the Peugeot were masked, it was difficult to identify them.
The other accused persons are Philip Asamoah, alias Agingo, Patrick Boakye Mprah, Ex-corporal James Doli, Augustus Oko Odartey, Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Jack Bebli, and Kofi Bokor, alias Kofi Bebli.
They face various charges of conspiracy to commit crime, abetment of crime, robbery and abetment of robbery for attacking a bullion van and stealing eight gold bars worth 2.4 billion cedis.
Three of them, Mprah, Doli and RSM Bebli are on bail while the rest are on prison remand.
Constable Mensah, who is the sixth prosecution witness, told the court that he never fired any shots and he returned all his ammunition.
He said he had known Asamoah since 1998 and had travelled with him to the gold mines on several occasions.
Earlier, led in evidence by Mrs Merley Wood, Principal State Attorney, Constable Mensah, said in all ten people, seven from the West Coast Allied Services, a private security company, together with three policemen, were transporting the gold to Accra on behalf of Amansie Resource in the Ashanti Region.
Witness said they were in a convoy of three vehicles, and that while he and Constable Alex Amoako Acheampong of the same station, travelled on the front escort vehicle, the other policeman, Constable Nyarko of the Mobile Force Unit, was on the rear escort vehicle.
Constable Mensah said all three of them were armed with AK 47 rifles with 10 rounds of ammunitions each.
He said when they were about five kilometres to Apam Junction, a Peugeot caravan suddenly overtook the convoy, and crossed the front escort vehicle.
Witness said the Peugeot stopped in the middle of the road, but the front escort vehicle bypassed it and drove off.
Witness said he saw two armed men dressed in military-type uniform come out of the Peugeot when the bullion van stopped.
He said he asked the driver to stop, but the commander on the vehicle ordered him to drive on.
Further hearing was adjourned to Tuesday, March 13.
GRi…/
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