Three persons who allegedly invaded the Mepe and Aveyime Police stations in the Volta Region and made away with 10 AK 47 rifles have been remanded by an Accra Circuit Court. The accused persons are; Francis Kudzo Wor, a 71-year-old, and Samuel Wor and Kobla Kove, a 67-year-old fisherman, have been charged with three counts of conspiracy, stealing, participating in campaign of a prohibited organization, namely Western Togoland, and causing unlawful damage.
The court preserved their pleas.
They are to reappear before the court presided over by Ms. Eva Bannerman Williams on October 15.
Mr. Theophilus Donkor, one of the defense lawyers, argued that the three accused persons were innocent and were nowhere near the scene on the day of the incident.
Mr. Donkor said one of his clients, Kove, for instance attended a funeral only to return to be arrested by the Police.
According to counsel, the state had violated the 48 hour rule and the court should not listen to the Police arguments because the accused persons had spent more than four days in Police custody.
Defense Counsel argued that a search conducted by the Police in the accused person’s room revealed nothing incriminating, adding that “the accused persons are just being used as scape goats.”
Counsel said Francis and Kove were diabetic and that they had been able to take their medication in custody.
Defense Counsel said Samuel had an elderly mother and father under his care adding that, he was also a bread winner for his family.
Counsel said their continued detention for an offence they had not committed would be a great injustice to them.
Prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare said they were in court because of Article 14 (3) of the 1992 Constitution.
He said the Police were still conducting investigations into the matter.
The facts of the case as narrated by ASP Asare are that the accused persons are residents and natives of Aveyime in the Volta Region and also members of the prohibited Organization namely Western Togoland Organization in the Volta Region.
ASP Asare said on September 25, this year, the accused persons together with others now at large numbering about 20, armed themselves with offensive weapons such as guns, cutlasses among others and besieged the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations respectively.
Prosecution said the accused persons attacked the officers of these stations, overpowered the few personnel on duty and vandalized properties at both stations and made away with 10 AK47 assault rifles and a Police patrol vehicle.
According to prosecution, the accused persons and their accomplices fled from the scene on board the Police vehicle amidst firing into the air to ward off members of the community.
ASP Asare said the accused persons and their accomplices later abandoned the Police vehicle at a secluded place and went into hiding.
On September 26, this year, Police intelligence led to the arrest of the accused persons from their hideout at Aveyime, the prosecution said.
“Efforts are being made to trace their accomplices and arrest them as well as retrieve the stolen rifles.”
