Court Issues Bench Warrant For Suspect Who Escaped From Police Custody

An Accra High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a private security man who escaped from police custody.

The suspect, Pius Anundoabil Ayoma, who was hauled before the court on charges of attempted murder and robbery escaped hours after being placed on remand.

State prosecution informed the court on Monday, March 20, of the latest development, and the subsequent request for an arrest warrant.

“I am reliably informed by the investigator in this matter that the accused escaped from police custody (Manet Police) between the 1st and 2nd of March.

“My lady will recall that at the last adjourned date, I made a submission for the accused to be remanded in prison custody which was granted. However, before the warrant would be picked by the investigator to convey the accused to Nsawam the following day the accused escaped from lawful custody,” the prosecution indicated.

The trial judge, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, after listening to the prosecution’s plea granted the request for a warrant.

The facts before the court suggest that the complainants in the case are a couple who reside off Spintex road, Accra, the same as the accused.

The accused, Ayoma was assigned to work at the residence of the couple as a security guard till he was relieved of the post upon complaint by the couple to his superiors for theft.

On January 21, 2020, at about 7:30 pm, the accused who was no longer working at the residence of the couple, armed with a gun and a knife surfaced at the premises of the complainants wearing a mask and attacked the security man on duty.

Per the facts, the accused tied the guard’s legs and arms with a necktie and a rope, after which he hit him several times with the butt of the gun.

He then gained access to the main house with a duplicate key that he already had and he entered the bedroom of the couple, now unmasked where he chanced upon one complainant (the wife) who was home alone.

Ayoma forcefully broke into their bathroom where she was freshening up to go to church and injured himself in the process resulting in blood stains on the bathroom floor.

He ordered her to transfer some money from her phone to a mobile number which investigations later revealed was registered in his name.

Afterwards, he took her to the room where he had tied their security guard and threatened to hit her with the gun just as he was hitting the security guard if she did not give him more money.

She pleaded with him not to hit her because she was pregnant and did not want to lose her baby. But all her pleas fell on deaf ears.

“He forcibly made her transfer about GHC2,000.00 to the said phone number and even assaulted her. He asked her for more money which she said she did not have so he told her he would wait for her husband to return since he was aware they were well-to-do.

“The accused then tied her up in the bathroom, ransacked the rooms and collected various items belonging to the couple. He took away two iPhones, one Dell Laptop computer, one DSTV decoder, one Subwoofer, one 32 inches Samsung Television, one 55-inch Philip flat Screen Television, two travelling bags and assorted clothes,” the prosecutor narrated.

The accused then used the complainant’s phone to request an Uber. Upon the arrival of the driver, he conveyed all the items into the vehicle.

“He did not leave but lay in wait for the other complainant (who is the husband) to return from work. At about 10:30 pm, he returned home and entered the house.

“It was only upon entering the house that he realised his house was under attack. He saw his wife tied on the toilet seat and in his attempt to set her free, he was attacked by the accused who was hiding behind the bathroom door,” as contained in the facts.

According to the prosecution, the accused tried hitting him with his gun but the complainant hit the gun with his hand and run outside while shouting for help.

Ayoma chased the complainant outside and fired the gun at him but missed him. The husband managed to escape unhurt.

“The accused, (who had earlier on come out unmasked to pack the stolen items into the Uber) jumped into the Uber vehicle but now masked and ordered the driver at gunpoint to drive out of the house, towards Spintex road,” it said.

En route to his place, he removed his mask and ordered the uber driver to get him a taxi.

“The driver obliged and stopped a taxi and he transferred the booty into the taxi and ordered the driver to drive towards Kasapreko direction.”

The police were informed and the accused was traced to Kasapreko junction where he was spotted in the taxi with the stolen items.

The police signalled the driver to stop and he did.

But the accused stepped out of the vehicle and pointed a gun at the police.

The prosecution said the police also pointed a gun at him but upon realising that the gun of the police was not functioning he (the accused) managed to escape from the vehicle leaving behind the taxi driver together with the booty.

The taxi was sent to the Manet Police Station where a complaint was lodged.

“The complainants identified him to the police as the one who robbed them. They also identified the stolen items in the taxi as theirs,” the prosecution narrated.

Investigations later revealed that the accused was hiding at Fumbisi in the Upper East Region where he was arrested.

He, however, injured one of the arresting officers after engaging the police in a shootout.

The case has been adjourned to April 17, 2023.