Rokko’s Alleged Killers In Court

Four persons who are alleged to have murdered the Deputy Managing Director of the Ghana Commercial Bank, Mr Rokko Frimpong, were yesterday remanded in custody by the Osu District Magistrate Court.

The four were remanded after the prosecutor, Inspector Anthony Asetsi, had prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable the prosecution to forward the docket on the case to the Attorney-General's Office for advice.

Francis Ankobeah, alias Nanasei, William Agbevor, Foster Kwame Boakye and Samuel MaCarthy were remanded to reappear on November 30, 2007.

They have been charged with conspiracy and murder. Their pleas have not been taken. Two other accomplices, Atta Kakra and Jonathan Abbey, are on the run.

Rokko's family members and sympathisers, clad in mourning clothes, thronged the court premises amidst tears to witness the prosecution of the four.

The facts of the case are that the accused belonged to a deadly armed robbery gang operating in the Accra/Tema area and at 8.30 p.m. on July 28, this year, the six-member gang boarded a seized Opel Vectra car, with registration number GR 4735 P, armed with two pump action guns and one locally-manufactured pistol and stormed the deceased's residence.

They allegedly pulled the deceased out of his main gate, fired at him and quickly sped off. The prosecution said Ankobea, Agbavor, Boakye and MacCarthy have admitted their involvement in the crime and mentioned Abbey, now at large, as the one who pulled the trigger on the deceased.

Inspector Afetsi said the accused persons had, however, denied that they were hired to eliminate the deceased but claimed that they had gone there to rob the deceased of his money.

The prosecution said the locally-manufactured gun and cash of ¢8 million believed to be part of MacCarthy's share after committing the crime had been retrieved.

The police said they were making efforts to apprehend the two other suspects and retrieve the guns.

Story by Mabel Aku Baneseh