The Koforidua Circuit Court B has remanded four military soldiers, an Immigration Officer, and a private security guard in police prison for armed robbery in Akyem Akanteng in the Lower West Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region.
Sergeant Mensah Dominic, 41, and L/Cpl Tetteh Wayo, 43, are both from the Jubilee House. L/CPL Nyarko Bernard, 28 years old, is stationed in the ABF’s Tamale command unit, while PTE Eric Anim, 23 years old, is stationed at the 11th Mechanised Infantry Battalion in Accra but is now on leave.
Richard Okyere, L.C.O. 27-year-old immigration officer stationed at the Ministry of Interior, and 28-year-old Kelvin Marfo, a private security guard at the 5th Hour Mining Company in Akyem Akwatia.
According to the prosecution, on November 10, 2023, the immigration officer, Richard Okyere, who was driving a Mitsubishi L200 with the registration number GS – 1116- 11, picked up the two military officers at their duty post at the Jubilee House before proceeding to pick up the other two military men at Pokuase and the last suspect at Asamankese before heading to Akyem Akanteng.
At 3:00 a.m. on November 11, 2023, the suspects armed with military guns and dressed in military clothes stormed the residence of the complainant, 55-year-old Ofori Samuel, a Cocoa buying clerk in Akyem Akanteng, and demanded GH100,000.00 in exchange for his life.
The complainant, who was terrified by the firearms, indicated that he had no money but could pay them 10,000 cash, which could be acquired by selling a 5 gramme of gold ore in his possession, which was valued at GH 29,000. The suspects then forced the complainant into his room, stole the gold, and fled.
The complainant immediately phoned the Akwatia Police Commander and an Osenase police officer to report the crime. However, luck evaded the culprits, and they were captured by authorities at the Osenase police checkpoint.
After being brought to the Akwatia Police Station, the suspects were found with two military rifles with serial numbers A0082460 and A0056937, four magazines, 62 rounds of live ammo, and a helmet.
According to the prosecution, during interrogations of the accused persons by the District Commander in the presence of other police officers, the first accused person handed over to the commander the 5 pounds of gold ore that the complainant previously reported was robbed from him by the accused persons.
The docket was taken over by the RCID, Kibi, the same day, along with the aforementioned exhibit of 5 pounds of gold for further examination.
Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi L200 with licence plate GS 1116-11 used by the accused has been detained at the Eastern South Regional Headquarters for further action.
The prosecution further stated that upon receipt of the case docket, all of the accused people’ departments were notified.
The suspects were remanded by the court presided over by Matilda Ribeiro to reappear on November 28th, 2023 after prosecution Assistant State Attorney Micdad Iddrisu prayed the court to remand the suspects to allow the police to continue their investigations.
