Two suspected armed robbers, Bartholomew Jesse, 24, alias ‘Ahow’ and Bernard Azure, 25, are in the grips of the police for allegedly robbing and maiming a ‘black market currency operator’ in Takoradi last Saturday
The two alleged robbers purportedly inflicted machete wounds on their victim who was identified as Haruna Umar before robbing him of huge sums of money.
ASP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, Western Regional Police Public Relations officer, who made this known to the media in Takoradi, said one Matthew Kwaw reported the incident to the Police on Saturday at 1930 hrs.
She said the unfortunate incident occurred when Umar had closed from work and was riding his motor bike on his way home.
She said after committing the alleged barbaric act, the robbers dumped the victim and his motor bike at Lagos Town bus stop on the Takoradi-Kwesimintsim road and bolted with the booty.
ASP Adiku said Mr Kwaw who was on his way home from Takoradi to Assakae, on reaching Lagos town bus stop, saw a young man about 40 years old lying close to his motor bike with severe cutlass wounds.
She said Mr Kwaw quickly rushed the victim to the Effia-Nkwanta Government Hospital for treatment and later reported the incident to the Police who proceeded to the hospital after the report and met the victim at the theatre being attended to by doctors.
ASP Adiku said initial investigations into the case revealed that the victim’s assailants trailed him from the Takoradi market circle where the victim conducted his business.
“Due to the victim’s condition at the hospital, he could not tell the police the specific amount he was carrying and after examining the victim it was revealed that there was a deep cut on his right hand and head.
She said a Police medical form was issued and photographs taken.
Narrating how the suspects were arrested, ASP Adiku said on Sunday, August 27, at 1000 hrs, the police in Kwesimintsim near Takoradi had information of the two suspected armed robbers alleged to have robbed Haruna Umar and they were arrested by the Cape Coast police.
She said on receipt of the information, the police in Kwesimintsim proceeded to the Cape Coast Regional Police Headquarters and met the suspects and one Rose Gyedu, the mother of Bartholomew Jesse, who was alleged to have been given some of the stolen money.
“They were all arrested and an amount of GH¢34,966.00 was retrieved from them”, the police PRO said.
ASP Adiku said “the suspects admitted the offence when they were interrogated by the Crime Officer in Cape Coast in the presence of their relatives”.
