Nine Kumasi mayhem gangsters remanded

Kumasi, March 2, GNA - A circuit court in Kumasi on Wednesday remanded nine suspects believed to be among the gangsters who took to the streets on Tuesday and caused mayhem, ostensibly in revenge for a friend's death.

The plea of the nine on charges of causing violence, unlawful harm and stealing were not taken and they will re-appear on March 15. They are Abdullah Murtala, trader, Kahil Sahid, footballer, Kwaku Abdullai, trader, Seidu Issa, mechanic, Issifu Haruna, trader, Charles Boateng, labourer, Kamal Mohammed, trader, Jamal Muniru Attah, blacksmith and Kwame Appiah, trader.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Stephen Kuffuor Boateng told the court presided over by Mr Ernest Yao Obimpeh that the suspects on Tuesday went on the rampage and caused damage to vehicles and also injured residents of Ashtown, Manhyia and Alar Bar, all suburbs of Kumasi on their way to bury a friend who was believed to have been lynched by another gang of criminals.

Chief Inspector Boateng said the suspects in the process also snatched the cell phones of some residents in these areas causing panic and unnecessary trauma to innocent residents and forcing them to run for their lives.

He told the court that last Tuesday at about 1400 hours, a group of young men armed with guns, cutlasses and other weapons on a fleet of unlicensed motorbikes stormed the areas.

The prosecution added that a team of policemen led by the Manhyia Commander, Chief Superintendent Atingana also went to the scene. The group took to their heels when they saw the police and fired warning shots.

He said it took the police four hours to bring the situation under control.

Chief Inspector Boateng said the police were still investigating since some of the suspected criminals were at large.