Policemen Testify in Ex-MP Girlfriend's case

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday February 3, 2011
Two policemen yesterday testified in the case of three people standing trial for allegedly conspiring to rob J.B. Danquah Adu, Ex-MP for Abuakwa North and Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs in the erstwhile Kufuor administration.

They are Sergeant Gabriel Arthur of the Highway Patrol Unit and Corporal Alex Anikom of the Crime Scene Unit who gave evidence as the fifth and sixth prosecution witness at an Accra Fast Track High Court.

Narteley Yirenkyiwaa Nettey aka Awura Ama, 24, the ex-Minister’s estranged girlfriend is standing trial together with Charles Antwi and Nana Yaw Ampaw as the first, second and third accused persons respectively and the police say the three conspired to rob the JB at the East Legon apartment of the lady on August 26, 2010.

The three have pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, causing harm and robbery and are still in police custody.

Led in evidence by Paul Asibi Abariga, a State Attorney, Sgt Arthur who was the first to mount the witness’ box told the court presided over by Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh that on August 26, 2010, they were on their usual patrols when a distress call from National Security asked them to proceed to East Legon at the American House area in Accra for an arrest.

“When we got to the scene we saw JB seriously wounded on the right hand and he told us that Yirenkyiwaa and Antwi had attacked him.”

He said they arrested the accused locked them up at East Legon Police Station and at the same time sent JB to the hospital before continuing with their patrol duties.

During cross examination by Kwabena Addo Attuah, counsel for the accused persons, Sgt. Arthur said he could not tell the court what actually transpired between JB and the accused person because he was not at the scene.

Counsel: So as to what actually happened between PW1 (JB) was injured you would not be in a position to say.

Witness: Yes my Lord.

Counsel: My lord that will be all for this witness.

After Sgt. Arthur testified, Corporal Anikom also took his turn and told the court that he was tasked to by Sgt. Gyan of East Legon Police to come to the station and upon reaching the station the officer together with his team and Yirenkyiwaa and Antwi visited the crime scene.

“I processed the scene by taking photographs after which I handed over the evidence gathered to Sgt. Gyan.”

He then tendered in evidence printed copies of the photographs taken and gave vivid description of the photographs.

Some of the photographs showed blood stains on the wall, windows, floor and door and captured blanket, brazier, shoe, shirt, mobile phones, two knives and a digital camera.

PW6 also testified that JB parked his Nissan Patrol with registration GT 8000 Y in the premises of Yirenkyiwaa but the pair of trousers of JB could not be found in the room.

During cross examination the witness insisted that it is not his practice to ask suspects to sign for inventory taken from that suspect.

Counsel: Have a look at the pictures you have just tendered. Is there any link between the pictures and the accused?

Witness: Yes

Counsel: The standard police procedure is that the suspects have to sign before you produce.

Witness: Everything was done in their presence. I have never taken pictures and asked suspects to sign before.

Counsel: You went into the accused room with Sgt. Gyan and one Twum Barimah to ransack her room before you sent them there.

Witness: This did not happen

Counsel: On the photographs there are no dates

Witness: It is handwritten at the back

Counsel: All photographs for investigations have dates indicating when they are printed and not handwritten and therefore could have been taken on any date.

Witness: I do not know that dates appear on the photographs. They were taken in the presence of accused persons.

Sitting continues on February 9, 2011.