Dad & son in court for shooting man

29-year old Kevin Saoud and his father, 59-year old Simon Anthony Saoud, both Lebanese residents in Accra are to return to an Accra Circuit Court on Monday June 13 where they are facing trial for conspiring to shoot at a Ghanaian business man Charles Otoo, during a verbal disagreement on Boxing Day last year.

The live bullet fired at Charles Otoo hit him in the leg and he was rushed to the Inkoom Hospital before he was transferred to the 37 Military Hospital for further treatment  involving a surgery to save him.

Investigations revealed that the two Lebanese own a residential facility near the Spintex Road in Accra and had rented out some of the apartments to tenants including a Russian lady by name Tatiana Elovskaia.

The victim who suffered the gunshot, Charles Otoo, on the recent Boxing Day visited this Russian lady, Tatiana, but the two found difficulties opening the door to her apartment which was in the building owned by the two Lebanese.

While Charles and Titiana were attempting to open the door without success, someone by name Serge Osta chanced on them and tried to help but it rather resulted in a loud quarrel among the three of them.

The owners of the facility, who also stayed in same building, heard about the quarrel and went to the scene with Simon Anthony Saoud  carrying on him  a Beretta pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition.

Again their presence resulted in yet another quarrel and Simon Anthony Saoud called the civilian security around to  get  Charles Otoo out of  the apartment to his car.

When all parties got to the compound where Charles Otoo had parked his car, Kevin and his dad, Simon, attempted to sack him from the facility completely but it resulted in another misunderstanding and exchange of words.

Charles Otoo, was reported to have said he also has a gun which was in his car and that he could as well go for it since Simon Anthony Saoud was already armed with a pistol.

Kevin and his dad attempted to stop Charles from going  for the said gun and at that point Simon Anthony Saoud fired a warning shot into the air.

While Simom Anthony Saoud was still armed with the pistol, he was said to have physically prevented  Charles Otoo from going into his car to pick the gun he had bragged about and in the melee, Simon shot the victim in the leg.

The Russian lady then rushed the now injured and bleeding cued Charles Otoo to the hospital before a complaint was filed to the Police.

The Baatsonaa Divisional  Commander led by C/Supt. Mr. Julius Kpeberson visited the crime scene to ascertain what exactly happened before visiting the victim at the hospital.

A search by the police of Charles’ vehicle revealed that he truly had a gun in it.

It was a  pump action gun GX812 with 8 rounds of ammunition.

Kevin Saoud and Simon Anthony Saoud were eventually arrested and detained in police custody to assist in investigations.

Both the Beretta pistol with 1l rounds of ammunitions and pump action gun have been kept for evidential purposes.

Kevin Saoud and Simon Anthony Saoud  have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime, causing harm and discharge of firearm without authority.

The court case resumes June 13.