Two persons who allegedly burgled John Kumah’s widow refused bail

The Accra Circuit Court Two on Friday refused bail to two persons who allegedly stole money, electrical gadgets and other items from Lillian Kumah, the widow of John Kumah, a former Deputy Minister of Finance. 

Adams Sanogo, trader, and Kwame Dunga, at large, allegedly conspired to steal US$50,000, GH¢50,000, an iPhone 15 Pro Max mobile phone valued at GH¢15,000 from Reverend Lillian Kumah, widow of Mr Kumah, who was also a former Member of Parliament for Ejisu. Kumah died in February this year.

The accused persons are also believed to have stolen her Apple iPad valued GH¢15,000, a Samsung Z fold mobile phone valued at GH¢12,000, Microsoft laptop valued GH¢7,000, a black school bag valued GH¢400 and an Apple watch.

Rabiu Falilu, a Senior High School (SHS) leaver, is also accused of dishonestly receiving some of the stolen items.

The accused persons, who were arrested in the Ashanti Region and handed over to the Police in Accra, have denied the crime and were remanded into police custody last Friday to assist in investigation.

They are also to assist the police to arrest an accomplice who has been identified as Kwame Dunga, who is on the run.

The court presided over by Isaac Addo declined to grant them bail as prayed by their counsel, Benjamin Ofori.

They are to reappear on on August 7, 2024.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Raymond Ackom, said Reverend Lillian Kumah, the complainant was a resident of Achimota-Mile 7 in Accra.

Sanogo is a mobile phone dealer at Adum-PZ and resident of Kokoso, all suburbs of Kumasi whilst Falilu, was a resident of Jamasi in the Ashanti region.

He said on December 29, 2023, an unknown person, gained access to the place of abode of Reverend Kumah and stole her personal belongings.

The prosecution said she made a formal complaint to the Police, furnishing the Police with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video footage of the incident.

On July 24, 2024, Police investigation led to the arrest of Falilu, who was in possession of the complainant’s iPhone 15 Pro max mobile phone at Jamasi in the Ashanti region, the court was told.

The prosecution said after his arrest, he led Police to Adum PZ, Kumasi, where Sanogo was also arrested and during interrogation, Sanogo admitted selling the phone to Falilu.

He further mentioned Dunga, another mobile phone dealer at Adum PZ, who is currently at large as his accomplice, the court heard.

The prosecution said Sanogo and Falilu were cautioned, charged for the offence and put before court, meanwhile efforts were underway to arrest Dunga.

In praying for bail, counsel for the accused persons said Sanogo and Falilu had fixed places of abode, were not a flight risk and had people of substance to stand as sureties for them as well as assisted and still willing to assist the Police in their investigations.

He said Sanogo was a middleman who bought a phone from Kwame whilst Falilu, he said was just an SHS leaver who led the Police to Sanogo, the one he got the phone from.

The prosecution opposed the bail application and said if the accused persons were released, they would interfere with investigations, would not appear to stand trial, and that they had been on the run since 2023 as the Police deployed intelligent officers to the Ashanti Region who arrested them only two days ago.