West Hills Mall robber stuns trial Judge

One of the robbers who stormed the West Hills Mall at Weija last week stunned an Accra Circuit Court when he mounted the dock before Mr Justice Francis Obiri who incidentally granted him bail in another robbery case recently.

When Sule Jali, a truck pusher, mounted the dock on Monday the Trial Judge, Mr Obiri, who made him out asked: “You again?”.

According to Jali, he took the pistol, which they used in the robbery, from a Fulani Herdsman to rob, to enable him to raise GH¢1,500 for his pregnant wife’s medical bills. The wife he claimed has been diagnosed as a Hepatitis B patient.

Jali, 24, who was in the dock with an accomplice Stephen Ayomba, a.k.a. Kweku, a cobbler, are being held on the charge of Conspiracy to commit crime, robbery and two counts of causing harm.

The two, who were without legal representation, denied the charges. They have been remanded into Police custody to reappear on June 15.

Meanwhile four of their accomplices are said to be on the run.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ernest Acheampong told the court that on May 24 this year, at about 1545 hours, the Greater Accra Regional Police Command received a distress call that a gang of armed robbers had invaded the Silver Star Cinema Centre projection room, where the account office was also located, amidst firing of gunshot within the West Hills Mall at Weija.

DSP Acheampong said the Police moved swiftly to the scene and managed to arrest Ayomba and Jali. A foreign made pistol with 10 rounds of ammunitions, an empty shell and pair of scissors were retrieved from them.

According to the prosecutor, the gang of robbers shot indiscriminately through the Silver Star Cinema Centre and in the process Frank Owusu and Albert Adomako, both workers of the mall sustained injuries.

The injured were rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Prosecution said the gang also robbed Owusu of his mobile phone valued at 500 dollars.

According to DSP Acheampong, investigations revealed that Jali had been granted bail by the same court for a similar robbery incident.

Prosecution alleged that ever since Jali was granted bail, he paid regular visits to the West Hills Mall and visited the Accounts office regularly.

Source: GNA