A huge crowd besieged the Aflao Circuit Court yesterday to witness the beginning of the trial of five suspects who escaped from police cells at Denu in the Ketu South District.
The escapees also bolted with two AK 47 assault rifles and 50 rounds of ammunition but the rifles have been retrieved.
The suspects are Edem Gomala, Stanley Wada Kabee, Kwaku Azasu, Linus Ashietey and George Dabla.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges at the court, presided over by Mr Justice Ali Baba Abature.
The charges are conspiracy to escape lawful custody, causing damage to police property, escaping lawful custody and stealing.
Accomplices
Also in the dock were three others who pleaded not guilty to charges of dishonestly receiving AK 47 assault rifles and ammunition, possessing arms without lawful authority and harbouring criminals.
They are a fetish priest, Edo Akpalu; Augustine Gomashie and Ephraim Apedo, all residents of Gomashiekope at Avoeme, a suburb of Aflao. The suspects did not engage any counsel and the court adjourned to April 22.
Presenting the facts of the case at the court, Sergeant Michael Akimo of the Aflao Police said the five fugitives were among 13 who had been detained to stand trial for cases of robbery.
He said on March 13, this year, they escaped from cells and, together with two Nigerians, broke into the armoury,and bolted with two AK 47 assault rifles and 50 rounds of ammunition.
He said the police mounted a search for them and arrested three of them at Lotakor Village, near Agbozume, one in the Republic of Togo and the other from a hideout in Denu.
AK 47 rifles Sgt Akimo said that after the arrest of the three fugitives and others, both AK 47 assault rifles were retrieved, but without the magazine of one of the guns.
He told the court that it was now left with 37 rounds of ammunition to be recovered.
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