The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a private security man who escaped from the Manet Police a few hours after appearing in court.
Pius Anundoabil Ayoma was on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, arraigned at the High Court and was charged with attempted murder and robbery.
He escaped from the custody of the Manet Police moments after the High Court in Accra upon request from the prosecution remanded him into prison custody.
In court on Monday, March 20, 2023, the Prosecution after briefing the court prayed for a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused.
“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,” the Prosecution noted.
The Prosecution while recounting the previous sitting said, “My lady will recall that at the last adjourned date, I made a submission for the accused be remanded into prisons 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 noted.
The Prosecution said, strenuous efforts are being made by the police to arrest him.
The prosecution consequently prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused.
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, after listening to the Prosecution granted the request and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Meanwhile, the prosecution said it had complied with the previous orders of the court to file their disclosures in the matter.
It however noted that due to the situation, “we have not been able to serve the accused due to the instance circumstances.”
The case has been adjourned to April 17, 2023.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts of the case, the complainants are a couple who reside together off the Spintex road.
The accused, Pius Anundoabil Ayoma also lived off the Spintex Road Accra and was a security man with a private Security Company.
The facts indicate that he was assigned by the private security firm to work at the residence of the couple as a security guard till he was relieved of that post upon a complaint made by the couple to his (the accused person’s) supervisor for petty stealing at their residence.
It states that 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.
The facts state that the accused tied his legs and arms with a neck tie and a rope, after which he hit him several times with the butt of the gun.
Access to house
The facts state that he then gained access to the main house with a duplicate key which 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.
“He 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,” the brief facts state.
“He then 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.”
MoMo transfer
The facts indicate that she pleaded with him not to hit her because she was pregnant and did not want to lose her baby.
“He forcibly made her transfer about two thousand Ghana Cedis unto 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.”
“He 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.”
Uber request
The facts indicate that he then ordered her to use her phone to order an Uber to come to the house. The accused, upon arrival of the uber driver, conveyed all the items with his (the uber driver) assistance into the vehicle.
“The accused 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,” the facts State.
Gunshot
The facts indicate that he (the accused) tried hitting him with his gun but the complainant hit the gun with his hand and run outside while shouting for help.
“The accused actually chased the complainant outside and fired the gun at him but missed him and he 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 gun point to drive out of the house, towards Spintex road,” it states.
It states that on their way, “the accused removed the mask and ordered the Uber driver to get a taxi for him.
“The driver obliged and stopped a taxi and he transferred the booty into the taxi and ordered the driver to drive towards Kasapreko direction.”
Police station
It states that 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 and the accused came out and pointed a gun at the police.
“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 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.”
It states that investigations later revealed that the accused was hiding at Fumbisi in the Upper East Region where he was arrested.
In the process of arresting him, the accused resisted, with the assistance of his mother and other members of his family by firing at one of the arresting officers, injuring him in the process.