Cleaner to stand trial over cashier’s death

 Gideon Vitlas, a 24-year-old cleaner, is to stand trial at the Accra High Court on May 22, this year, for alleged involvement in the death of a cashier at Twumasi­waa Hospital.

During a committal proceed­ing, Vitlas, a Nigerian, is to face a charge of murder following the Attorney-General’s (A-G) advice.

Vitlas is alleged to have mur­dered Patience Quaye, 35, who worked as a cashier at Twuma­siwaa Hospital in East Legon, Accra.

The A-G’s representative told the Kaneshie District Court that the state would produce five witnesses, including Mohammed Mubarak, who had been released earlier.

Mubarak, a worker of the hospital, who was arrested when investigations began, allegedly conspired with Vitlas to commit the crime.

The prosecution said it would also produce evidence to substan­tiate the murder charge against Vitlas.

Meanwhile, Vitlas told the District Court, presided over by Ama Adomako Kwakye, during the committal proceedings, that he only went to the hospital to steal money, he desperately need­ed, and that he had no intention of killing the cashier.

The court heard that Vitlas was dismissed from the hospital in February, 2023, for alleged theft at the facility.

The prosecution said despite management’s warning, Vitlas had been sneaking into the hospital with the help of Mubarak, who was still working at the facility, to engage in alleged criminal activities.

The court heard that on March 6, 2023, Quaye, who was in the morning shift, reported for work as the cashier on duty.

The prosecution said on March 7, 2023, about 1.30pm, the cashier went to use the restroom in the Administrator’s office.

The court heard that Vitlas, who showed up at the facility, allegedly followed Quaye to the Administrator’s office, grabbed her from behind and strangled her.

According to prosecution, Vitlas dragged the cashier’s body into the storeroomand locked the place.

Vitlas allegedly took the cash office key, opened the facility, ran­sacked it, and stole GH¢1,200 and the victim’s mobile phone.

The prosecution said the fol­lowing day, Quaye’s relatives and hospital management searched for the victim, to no avail.

The court heard that the case was reported to the police, and on March 8, 2023, after a search of all offices, the police discovered that the key to the storeroom could not be found.

The prosecution said when the door to the storeroom was forcibly opened, the victim’s body was found in a decomposi­tion state.

The court heard that Vitlas escaped after committing the crime, but investigations led to his arrest in Koforidua, Eastern Region.

The prosecution said Vitlas told prosecution that he (ac­cused) stole the money at the office and gave it to a friend for safekeeping.

The accused also saidhe took a mobile phone belonging to the victim and sold it at Madina, Accra, for GH¢150. —GNA

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