Steel bender before court for illegally possessing firearms

Accra, Jan. 11, GNA - Kwame Andoh, a 27-year-old steel bender, on Monday appeared before a circuit court in Accra for allegedly possessing firearms without authority.

Andoh is said to have pulled a locally manufactured pistol when being escorted to the Weija Police station for allegedly riding a stolen bicycle.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded into Police custody to re-appear on January 28.

Police Chief Inspector Johnson K. Anim told the court presided over by Mr. D.E.K Daketse that Mr. Richard Thompson, a block and machine laying operator was the complainant.

He said the complainant lived at New Bortianor while the accused lived at Old Broadcasting near Weija in the Greater Accra Region.

Chief Insp Anim said that on December 30, last year, the complainant parked a bicycle in his house and went to bed but the following day he realized that thieves had entered the house and made away with the bicycle.

Prosecution said on January 1, this year, the complainant went to Ayigbe Town near Weija and found one Joe riding his stolen bicycle and confronted him.

Chief Insp Anim said Joe told the complainant that the accused sold the bicycle to him for GH¢ 30 cedis and had made part payment of GH¢ 20 cedis.

Prosecution said the complainant arranged with Joe to arrest the accused.

Chief Insp Anim said the following day, when the complainant and his two friends went to Joe's house they saw the accused and apprehended him but he took to his heels while being escorted to the Police station

The prosecution said they chased the accused but he pulled out a locally manufactured pistol on them but later they realized there was no bullet in it and therefore pounced on him and arrested him to the Weija Police Station and after investigations charged with the offence.

GNA