Two persons have appeared before a Circuit Court in Accra, for allegedly robbing a German of gold worth GH¢259,000.
Philip Mustapha Morka, 58-year-old exporter, and Nana Akwasi Adom, 59-year-old bar operator, are alleged to have committed the act with some police personnel, now at large.
The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime namely robbery and robbery.
The court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh, admitted Adom to GH¢300,000 bail with two sureties, who should be public servants earning not less than GH¢2,000 a month.
The court remanded Morka into police custody, because a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest in connection with another case before it.
The case has been adjourned to August 24.
Mr Theophilus Donkor and Mr Eric Mensah, who represented accused, prayed for bail, saying the police had breached the 48-hour rule of taking their clients to court.
The defence counsel held that accused were in gainful employment and had fixed places of abode and they would appear to stand trial.
Inspector Thomas Sarfo said the complainant Dominik Winterfeld-Gern was self-employed and resided at Osu, Accra.
Prosecution said the complainant had contact with Monka in Ghana, and told him (Monka) that he wanted to buy gold.
InspSarfostated that Morka introduced two other accomplices,on the run, to the complainant as gold dealers, who could supply him (complainant) with gold.
The court heard that Morka later introduced Adom, as a relative, to complainant.
Insp Sarfo said the two accused and accomplices, held a meeting with the complainant and his friends on several occasions, at Adom’s bar at Abelemkpe and accused promised to supply him (complainant) with gold.
Prosecution said the two accused and their accomplices lured complainant and his friend to a gold refinery shop, near the Medical Supply,at Abelemkpe,to sell one kilogrammeof gold valued at GH¢259,000 to him.
InspSarfo said during the transaction, Morka collected the gold bar from other accomplices and declined to accept the payment of the gold in the refinery shop and requested that the payment be made outside the refinery.
The court heard that immediately they came out from the refinery shop, one of the accomplices collected the money from the complainant’s friend, known as Fabio, and drove off in a waiting car while accused and the other accomplices waited at the refinery to finalise the documentation of the process.
InspSarfosaid three other accomplices dressed in police uniform, armed with AK47 rifles in a Toyota Camry saloon car with number DV NO 5476 H crossed the complainant’s car at the entrance of the refinery, kidnapped the complainant at gunpoint, handcuffed him and forced him into the Toyota Camry and took him away.
Prosecution said the accomplices collected the gold bar from the complainant and abandoned him at a spot near Las Palmas Restaurant and drove off. -GNA
