Mechanic ‘vanishes’ from court after dramatic judgment

The speed at which a discharged man dashed out of the court room was a sight to behold.

The judge, Emmanuel Essandoh, discharged a 56-year-old man, Samuel Antwi, who had been accused of stealing a machine belonging to a lotto operator.

“There is no evidence to support the facts that the accused person brought before this court committed the offence he is being charged with.”

“The man in the docket didn’t take your machine, and even when you read the facts, it clearly confirms that the accused did not take your machine,” the judge said.

When the 56-year-old mechanic, heard the word discharged, his face beamed.

Samuel Antwi was brought to the Accra Circuit Court for stealing, a charge to which he pleaded not guilty.

The decision taken by the court did not go down well with the complainant who raised his hand to get the judge’s attention.

But the judge maintained that the facts presented by Detective Inspector Eric Pobee, suggested that a police officer was the one who took the machine.

“Go to the police officer [name not mentioned] for your machine,” Mr Essandoh reiterated as he stood to his chambers.

But before the court clerk could tell patrons of the court to rise for the judge’ exit, Samuel Antwi, the accused was no where to be found.

The facts of the case presented by Inspector Pobee were that the complainant is a lotto writer at Accra Newtown and lives at Amasaman.

The first accused is a mechanic living at Amasaman and the second accused now at large.

According to the prosecution, the complainant has a ‘German Greener Engine’ with a serial number GP227041 belonging to his forefather.

The complainant was holding the Greener Engine and the first accused told him he knows people who have been buying it, so he will arrange for buyers.

Subsequently, the accused brought buyers but the price was not good for the complainant.

On August 11, this year, the accused called the complainant to meet him at Amasaman with the engine at 10:00pm but the complainant objected to it.

On August 12, 2020, the first accused and the second accused now at large, together with three others traced the complainant to Accra Newtown to buy the engine.

The first accused and his accomplices after inspecting the engine at Accra Newtown told the complainant they have to go to Anyaa to pay him at Ga Rural bank, Ablekuma branch.

While, the first accused and his accomplices were there, the first accused said the person buying the engine was coming to pay for the engine.

According to the facts, “a police officer later came and arrested the complainant, the first accused person and another person in handcuffs and the engine was taken away from the complainant.”

“The police officer then said he was taking the complainant, accused person and others to Anyaa Police Station but the officer later released the accused.

“He then sent the complainant away but along the way released the complainant without sending him to the alleged Anyaa Police Station,” Inspector Pobee stated.

The prosecution said efforts are being made to get the accomplices arrested for investigations to be completed.