Four military personnel, an immigration officer, and a private security man have been arrested and remanded into police custody by the Koforidua Circuit Court B for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery in Akyem Akanteng, Lower West Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The accused persons are Sergeant Mensah Dominic 41 years, L/Cpl Tetteh Wayo 43 years both stationed at the Jubilee House. L/CPL, Nyarko Bernard 28 years stationed at ABF at Tamale command Unit, PTE/ Eric Anim 23years stationed at 11 mechanised Infantry Battalion- Accra but currently on leave.
L.C.O/ Richard Okyere 27-year-old immigration officer stationed at the Ministry of Interior and 28-year-old Kelvin Marfo a private security man at the 5th Hour Mining Company at Akyem Akwatia.
According to the prosecution, the immigration officer, Richard Okyere who was in charge of a Mitsubishi L200 with registration number GS – 1116- 11 on November 10, 2023, based on their plan picked up the two military officers at their duty post at the Jubilee House before proceeding to pick up the other 2 military men at Pokuase and the last suspect at Asamankese before heading to Akyem Akanteng.
The armed robbery occurred at 3:00 am on November 11, 2023, when the accused persons dressed in military uniforms and armed with military rifles, invaded the home of a 55-year-old Cocoa purchasing clerk, Ofori Samuel. The suspects demanded GH¢100,000.00 and, with threats of violence, pushed the complainant inside his room. Frightened, the complainant offered them GH¢10,000 in cash and a 5-gram gold ore valued at GH¢29,000, which the suspects took before fleeing.
Upon the complainant’s alert, the police were informed, and the suspects were apprehended at the Osenase police checkpoint. Two military rifles, four magazines, 62 rounds of live ammunition, and a helmet were recovered from the suspects.
During interrogations, the first accused person handed over the 5 pounds of gold ore to the District Commander. The case docket and the gold exhibit were subsequently handed over to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department (RCID), Kibi, for further investigations.
The accused persons have been charged with two counts: conspiracy to commit crime (robbery) and robbery.
The court, presided over by Matilda Ribeiro, remanded them into police custody until November 28, 2023, following a request from the prosecution Assistant State Attorney Micdad Iddrisu to allow for ongoing investigations.
The Mitsubishi L200 used by the accused persons has been impounded at the Eastern South Regional Headquarters for further action.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
