Three rape/robbery gang members nabbed

The robbers were part of a gang of eight who used two locally manufactured pistols and machete to attack the 22-year-old expatriate and other customers at the Sweet Mother Restaurant near the Adonteng Senior High School at about 11.30 p.m.

The suspects - Francis Mayar, 22; Kwasi Acheampong, alias Oboy, 31; and Michael Obeng Awuku, 22, also inflicted severe cutlass wounds on Mustapha Taran, a Turkish, and Samuel Okyere.

Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP James Abass Abaah, told the Daily Graphic that the victims were enjoying their meals and drinks at the restaurant when the eight cutlass-wielding suspected armed robbers attacked the restaurant.

He stated that the robbers did not only rape the expatriate and inflicted machete wounds on two male customers, they also took away GH₵2,000, five laptops and two mobile phones belonging to the customers at the facility.

ACP Abass said that the armed robbers bolted with their booty.

Fortunately, one of the victims identified one of the suspected armed robbers whose name was given only as Oboy, described as a notorious criminal at Aburi.

Following that tip-off, the police immediately mounted a series of swoops in the town and succeeded in arresting Oboy, otherwise known as Kwasi Acheampong; Francis Maha; and Michael Obeng Awuku on August 16, 2013.

He pointed out that an identification parade held for the three suspects led to the victims positively identifying Michael and Oboy as being part of the eight armed robbers who attacked them at the restaurant.

The deputy police commander stated that the police have mounted intensive search for the remaining robbery gang members.

He therefore appealed to members of the public to provide the police with information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects.

ACP Abaah expressed worry over the persistent failure of business operators, especially hoteliers, to take advantage of the police 24-hour 03420-22569 hotline to report criminal cases to the police promptly. He further appealed to hoteliers to take their security seriously and report any criminal activity to the police for immediate action.

'If the restaurant operator had called in the police on the hotline within the one hour the robbers used to carry out their activities, the police could have rushed to the scene to save the situation,' he said.

Story: Nana Konadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Daily Graphic/graphic.com.gh/Ghana