Koala Robbers Jailed 150 Years

Five armed robbers who were arrested for attacking an employee of the Koala Shopping Centre in January this year have been jailed a total of 150 years with hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court.

The suspects are Stanley Obaliko and Okoe Quarcoe who sustained injuries during the robbery incident.

The other accomplices including Gilbert Osabutey aka Obolo, a Supervisor of Koala Shopping Centre, Michael Edor Ahiataku aka Old soldier, a private security man, and Frederick Sedro Kwame, were jailed after being charged with conspiracy to rob.

Background
On January 6, this year, Osabutey, Ahiataku and Kwame hatched a plan to rob the Shopping Centre and sought the assistance of the two others, now at large, who also recruited Obaliko and Quarcoe to carry out the plan.

Prosecution said on January 8, this year, around 2000hrs, all the accused persons met at the Koala Shopping Centre at Cantonments and Osabutey, who is a supervisor at the Cantonments branch, briefed them about the movement of the complainant.

The prosecutor said the accused persons agreed to rob the complainant the following day.

On January 9, at about 0800hrs, the complainant went to the Koala Shopping Centre, Cantonments, but she decided to pick the Company's invoice and voucher to audit them and left for the head office at Airport.

On seeing the complainant leave the office, Osabutey alerted the accused persons through phone calls and Obaliko and Quarcoe boarded a BMW motor bike and moved closer to the Koala head office.

Obaliko and Quarcoe trailed the complainant to a point near the American Embassy at Cantonments.

Prosecution said Obaliko who was then the pillion rider alighted, drew out a pistol at the complainant and ordered her to surrender her handbag to him.

Chief Supt Tuaruka said Ms Horsu refused to comply and raised the alarm.

He said this infuriated Obaliko who pushed the complainant down and shot her twice in her thigh and calf and after which he (Obaliko) and Quarcoe sped off.

A taxi driver, who witnessed the incident, chased them with his vehicle and hit their motor bike.

Police investigations, however, led to the arrest of the rest of the accused persons.

The victim, who was shot twice by the accused persons, was treated at the 37 Military Hospital.

Prosecution said the Police are conducting further investigations to arrest the two other accomplices who are now at large.

-Starrfmonline