Winneba police arrest car snatcher

A suspected car snatcher is in the grip of the Winneba District Police Command for allegedly spraying powdered pepper into the eyes of a taxi driver before hijacking his Nissan Micra taxi and collecting his earnings.

The suspect, Douglas Kofi Korsah (alias Kwoa), 28, is said to have hijacked the taxi with two others, a man identified  as Justice Ohemeng and a woman who is yet to be identified.

The police have mounted a hunt for the two accomplices who are currently on the run.

A source close to the Winneba District Police Command told the Daily Graphic the police received a distress call on June 10, 2016 from a Good Samaritan who found the taxi driver in a bush at Chapers Junction, near Winneba Junction, in the Central Region.

The source said when the police proceeded to the spot, the victim was found with pepper smeared on his face, while his hands and legs had been tied with a sponge.

Driver’s story 

The driver of the Nissan Micra with registration number GW 9646-10, whose name is being withheld for security reasons, said Korsah and the woman hired his taxi from Agona Swedru to Chapers Junction near Winneba Junction around 8 p.m on June 10, 2016.

He said when he reached Chapers Junction, Korsah asked him to stop.

When he stopped, the victim said a man, who was later identified as Ohemeng, suddenly emerged from a nearby bush and pointed a gun at the driver and ordered him to hand over the car.

According to the victim, Korsah, who was seated beside the driver, immediately switched off the ignition and removed the key.

Pepper 

The taxi driver said when he attempted to overpower Korsah and take the ignition keys, the woman, who was sitting behind him, sprayed a substance which he later found to be powdered pepper, into his eyes and face.

He said his assailants later tied his hands and legs with a sponge and then dumped him in a nearby bush and bolted with the car, together with GH¢860 being his earnings for the day.

After the police rescued the driver, he said, they mounted a search for his assailants.

Arrest

On June 21, 2016, a police source said, the police had a tip-off that Korsah, who used to reside at Breman Bedum, had relocated to Breman Asikuma. He was, therefore, arrested based on intelligence from his hideout at Breman Asikuma.

A search conducted on him and the room where he was arrested led to the retrieval of a number of items, including offensive weapons such as 13 pieces of live ammunition, two pairs of scissors, pliers, a knife, torches, hammers and some gloves.

The taxi was also retrieved at Breman Asikuma.

Writer’s email: emelia.ennin@graphic.com.gh