Two suspects in police custody …for snatching taxicab

By: Dora Akyaa Asare
The police administration has not relented in its efforts at flushing out suspected criminals, including car snatchers operating in the country, as two suspects were arrested by the Accra Regional Police Command over the weekend, for snatching a taxi cab from its driver.

The suspects are currently in police custody assisting with further investigations.

The alleged suspects are Emmanuel Asamoah aka Zigi, also known as Asambo, 20, a native of Bolgatanga and currently living  at Dome, a suburb of Accra, and Michael Odonkor, 31, a native of Krobo-Odumase  who currently resides at Pokuase Amanfrom.

They were arrested over the weekend in Kumasi, when they were about to sell a Toyota Corolla taxi cab which they stole from the owner in Accra.

Briefing The Chronicle in Accra on Saturday, the Deputy Accra Regional Police Command, DCOP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said on April 27, 2012, at about 5:00 a.m., the two suspects hired the Toyota Corolla taxi cab, with registration number GR 3593-12, at the Aphrodisia night club in Dzorwulu, a suburb of Accra, to Amasaman.

According to DCOP Yohuno, the taxi driver charged the suspects GH¢24 from Dzorwulu to Pokuase. Whilst on the way Zigi bought a bottle of beer with the intention to commit a crime with the bottle.

On reaching Pokuase, Zigi pleaded with the driver to stop for him to attend nature's call in a nearby bush, the driver, who did not know what the two had in stock for him, quickly stopped for him.

There, Zigi who was still holding the beer bottle in his hand and hit the head and face of the driver till he fell unconscious. Michael, according to the police, also pointed a toy pistol at the taxi driver.

The suspects then pushed the driver out of the taxi and drove off to Kumasi Magazine, where they  offered the car for sale at GH¢7,000 without any documents.

He said the Accra Regional Police Command had a tip off, and immediately dispatched a team of policemen to Kumasi, and with the help of the Sofoline police, the suspects were arrested and brought back to the Accra Central Police Headquarters.

Upon interrogation, the two suspects admitted the offence, but claimed they were just receivers of the taxicab. They later confessed that they snatched.

Meanwhile, the taxi driver, who sustained various injuries on the head and face, is still on admission at the hospital.

The Deputy Accra Regional Commander has urged the general public, especially, commercial drivers, to be always smart and vigilant in their duties, in order not to fall victim to the activities of criminals in the country.