<<Print>>

DRAMA UNFOLDED at Abura Dunkwa in the Abura Asebu Kwamankese (AAK) District of the Central Region on Monday when two thieves who were being sent to the Ankaful Prisons in Cape Coast beat up the police officer who was taking them to the prison. The two thieves were Dennis Adu Adjei, 31 and Salas Aboagye, 18. According to information reaching DAaily Guide, the suspects were being transported to prison in a passenger car (Urvan bus) when the incident happened. Daily Guide�s information has it that the AAK district police command does not have a vehicle for transporting criminals. Eyewitnesses told the paper that when the police officer (name withheld) and the two thieves entered the car, he ordered the thieves to sit at the front so he could monitor them and prevent them from escaping. The police officer�s order, according to the eyewitnesses, infuriated the suspects, who started beating the officer mercilessly until blood started oozing out of his nose. It took the intervention of passengers to rescue the police officer from the grips of the angry thieves. In an interview with the AAK District Police Commander, ASP Ben Twum Barima, he said the suspects were brought to the station on Sunday by some teachers at Nyankumasi D/C Primary and Junior High School. According to the police commander, the teachers stated that they were sleeping in their rooms when one of them was awakened by a noise in his room. The teacher woke up and saw Dennis holding his laptop valued at GH�1,200. He therefore arrested Dennis and handed him over to the police. ASP Twum Barima said on Monday morning, even though Dennis had mentioned Aboagye as his accomplice, Aboagye came to the police station to visit him and he was also arrested. The two were arraigned before the Abura Dunkwa Magistrate Court on Monday, where Dennis pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months� imprisonment. Aboagye on the other hand pleaded not guilty was remanded to re-appear on July 27, 2011. The police commander said fresh charges were being prepared against the two for them to be sent to the Cape Coast Circuit Court for prosecution. He revealed that the two would be charged for assaulting a police officer and trying to escape lawful custody. He thanked the public for assisting the police officer to re-apprehend the thieves in that critical situation, adding that without the public the police could not discharge their duties effectively. He also appealed to government to provide them with a vehicle to prevent future occurrences of such a nature.