Three of five individuals have been brought before an Accra Circuit Court for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and assault of a businessman.
The accused are Albert Tetteh Botchway and David Burke, both 34 and businessmen, and Promise Lamptey, 29, a security guard.
Two other suspects, Awudu Balm and Katanga, remain at large.
The five are accused of kidnapping Kwadwo Agyapong Berry, a businessman, over a failed business investment.
They face charges including conspiracy to commit a crime (kidnapping and assault).
When the case was called, the first accused, Botchway, was absent but submitted a medical report to the court.
The second accused, Burke, and the third accused, Lamptey, were present and both denied the charges against them.
The Presiding Judge, Susana Eduful, granted Burke and Lamptey bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 each with two sureties each.
One surety must earn at least GH¢5,000, while the other must be an immediate family member.
The case has been adjourned to February 3, 2025.
Facts
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, informed the court that the complainant, Kwadwo Agyapong Berry, resides at Amrahia, near Adentan in Accra, while the accused, Botchway, Burke and Lamptey, live at Labadi.
The court was told that Lamptey, Balm and Katanga were employees of Botchway.
On December 14, 2024, Berry, along with Botchway and Burke, took one Benjamin Appiah Boateng to the Laboma Beach to interrogate him about the alleged misappropriation of over $1.6 million from their investment.
According to the prosecution, Boateng was detained at the Laboma Beach, with Botchway present, while the complainant visited on a daily basis to monitor Boateng’s efforts to recover the money.
On December 18, 2024, Burke called the complainant, asking him to come to the Laboma Beach on December 19, 2024, around 7 a.m. for a meeting with him and Botchway.
The prosecution said on December 19, 2024, the complainant drove to the Laboma Beach for the meeting and he was ushered to the office of Botchway by Burke.
The prosecution stated that Botchway deliberately stepped out of the office and shortly after, Lamptey, Balm and Katanga entered the office and instructed Burke to leave.
“At this stage, Lamptey, Balm and Katanga then locked the door to the office, handcuffed the complainant and subjected him to severe beatings, including the use of an electric wire to shock him,” the prosecution said.
The prosecution explained that the complainant reported that Lamptey, Balm and Katanga told him that Boateng had confessed that the $600,000 investment belonging to Botchway and Burke was with him (complainant).
The complainant was reportedly held in Botchway’s office from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on December 19, 2024, until the Police Intelligence Department received a tip-off about the incident and rescued him.
On January 2, 2025, Botchway and Lamptey were arrested for further investigations.
During questioning, Lamptey admitted to the offence but claimed that Boateng had implicated the complainant as his accomplice during their interrogation which led to their actions.
On January 10, 2025, Burke was also arrested for investigations and later granted police enquiry bail.
The prosecution stated that Botchway, Burke and Lamptey had been charged, while efforts continue for the arrest of Balm and Katanga.
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