A barber and ex-convict, Vincent Gbetorglo, has been remanded into police custody by Her Ladyship Evelyn Asamoah, a High Court Judge with additional responsibility for the Circuit Court in Accra, over his alleged involvement in a violent robbery incident.
Gbetorglo, who faces charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, pleaded not guilty to both counts. His two alleged accomplices, identified as Peter Akakpo Dompe and a man known only as Ali, remain at large.
The case, prosecuted by DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, has been adjourned to August 21, 2025.
According to police investigators, led by Detective Lance Corporal Julius Carlos Caesar, the robbery occurred on January 1, 2025.
The complainant, Martin Obeng, a taxi driver from North Legon, was working with his Toyota Corolla taxi, registration number GM 292-16, when he was approached at Madina Zongo Junction by three men who requested a ride to Haatso.
Upon reaching a point near the ICGC Chapel at Haatso, one of the passengers asked to alight. As the driver pulled over, he was suddenly grabbed from behind by Gbetorglo while the others allegedly covered his face, tied his hands with a rope, and forced him into the back seat.
Gbetorglo then took the wheel and drove the taxi to West Land, where the victim was abandoned.
The attackers allegedly made away with the taxi, a Samsung Galaxy A05 smartphone, a Ghana Card, driver’s licence, vehicle documents, two MTN SIM cards, GH¢13,000 in electronic cash loaded on one of the SIM cards, and GH¢700 in physical cash.
Nearly seven months later, on July 30, 2025, police intelligence led to Gbetorglo’s arrest at the Accra Mall.
During the arrest, officers recovered the complainant’s Samsung Galaxy A05 smartphone and two MTN SIM cards.
One of the SIM cards was registered to suspect Peter Akakpo Dompe but was being used by Gbetorglo, while the second was registered in Gbetorglo’s own name.
A subsequent search of Gbetorglo’s residence at Kasoa Domeabra revealed another Galaxy A05 smartphone and two keypad phones, one containing an additional SIM card.
Investigations also established that Gbetorglo, a Togolese national, is a known ex-convict. In 2011, he was sentenced by the Cocoa Affairs Court to 40 years’ imprisonment but regained his freedom in 2023 following a successful appeal.
He remains in lawful police custody while as authorities intensify efforts to apprehend his two alleged accomplices.
