An Accra High Court (Criminal Court 5) has remanded into lawful custody 10 persons allegedly involved in rural bank robberies in the country.
They were remanded following their second appearance before the court on Thursday. They are to reappear on October 22.
The accused persons are Kwesi Agyei, also known as Cobra, Ibrahim Alhassan, Samuel Appiah aka Kwesi Mugu, Francis Acquah aka Preman, and David Obuobi aka Wasty.
The rest are Martin Akansina aka One Billion, Nana Yaw Frimpong aka Mystical, Kojo Atingawo aka Borga, Samuel Akwasi Gyan, and Stephen Sey.
Two other accomplices, Kwabena Owusu-Ansah and Kwame Sekyere, are at large.
The 10 have been charged with 14 counts of conspiracy to commit crime, namely robbery and causing unlawful damage.
The court is yet to take their pleas.
Police investigations had established that the robbery gang was formed sometime in the year 2024 and their main objective was to engage in bank robberies across the country.
Police say the robbery gang was established by one Kwame Sekyere, who is currently in Canada.
The accused persons are alleged to have committed 13 robberies in five regions; Ashanti, Western, Central, Eastern and Ahafo.
Their activities are said to have led to the death a police officer and the police since the arrest of the accused persons have retrieved several weapons and ammunitions.
At the Court on Thursday, David Beecham, Assistant State Attorney, prayed for a two-week remand of the accused person pending further investigations.
Mr Beecham opposed the grant of bail, drawing the attention of the court to the fact that it should consider the severity of offences and the punishment as well as the use of offensive weapons.
The accused persons were represented by Mr Andy Vortia and Dr Francis Adjei Osei.
Mr Vortia opposed the prayer of the state, saying they had been served with the charge sheet, and he did not understand why they should be remanded without taking their plea.
According to defence counsel, they had earlier been remanded for two weeks hence their plea should be taken today (Thursday).
Defence counsel held that the accused persons were presumed innocent until proven guilty accusing the prosecution of delaying and punishing them unduly.
Counsel said the prayer by the prosecution for remand without giving any reasons constituted punishment.
The trial Judge held that looking at the charges, the court was not satisfied that they would appear to stand trial.
It, therefore, remanded them into lawful custody to reappear on October 22.
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