Military Officer, 4 Others Granted ¢550k Bail Over Kidnapping

The military officer and four accomplices who were arraigned at the Accra Circuit Court for their alleged involvement in the robbery and kidnapping of a Dutch national have been admitted to bail.

WOI Elorm John Ahiakpor has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢150,000 with three sureties.

Silas Amewonye, a 25-year-old farmer; Farouk Nuodio, a 32-year-old trader; Daniel Kwesi Obiri Yeboah, also known as Aljazeera, a 49-year-old trader, and Michael Nana Addo, a 25-year-old carpenter, have all been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢ 1000,00 each with two sureties.

The accused persons have been slapped with charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping, as well as robbery and kidnapping.

All five pleaded not guilty before the court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah.

They were granted bail following a bail application by their lawyers, Andy Vortia and Carlos De-Souza.

Prosecution’s Facts
The prosecution, represented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kofi Anane, who narrated the facts of the case said that on October 17, 2024, Frederikus, arrived in Ghana to meet his friend, Silas Amewonye, regarding a land purchase in Ningo Prampram.

Amewonye, along with Farouk Nuodio, met Frederikus at Kotoka International Airport and took him to Alexis Lodge at Afienya.

The following day, Amewonye and Nuodio brought Frederikus to Amewonye’s residence, where he was to stay.

However, on October 20, 2024, Frederikus had a growing sense of alarm at the suspicious behaviour of Amewonye and Nuodio and expressed his desire to return to his home country.

Enlistment
In response, Amewonye locked Frederikus in his room and enlisted the help of the other accused to kidnap him, subsequently demanding a ransom of 15,000 Euros for his release.

The prosecution stated that in fear for his safety, Frederikus negotiated with the accused (excluding Amewonye) to pay 5,000 Euros, but they insisted on a higher amount of 8,000 Euros.

Nuodio provided the complainant with bank details to facilitate the transfer.

When Frederikus delayed sending the money, four of the accused, excluding Amewonye, took him at gunpoint to a Stanbic ATM at Mataheko and forced him to withdraw GH¢6,000.

While they waited for the 8,000 Euros to be credited to the account, Frederikus managed to make a distress call to the police, who promptly arrived to rescue him and apprehend the accused.

During interrogation, the prosecution said the accused admitted to the offences.

Source:opemsuo.com