The Circuit Court 11 in Accra yesterday remanded into police custody four suspected police officers and a civilian who are said to be behind the spate of bullion van robberies that rocked the Accra Metropolis sometime last year and early this year.
The policemen arrested included No. 58370 Const. Afisu Yaro Ibrahim; No. 58586 Const. Albert Ofosu popularly called Cypher; No. 58355 Const. Richard Boadu popularly called Osor; No. 58525 Const. Rabiu Jambedu as well as a civilian called Razak Alhassan aka Zak, a scrap dealer.
Per the charge sheet, as well as the facts of the case, No. 43549 L/Cpl Stephen Kwaku Nyame and No.58284 Const. Reindolph Gyimah Ansah aka Pablo, who were earlier arrested, were shot and killed in a gun battle when they led the police to their hideout at Borteyman, near Ashaiman.
There are two Nigerians believed to be accomplices who are currently at large.
Their plea were not taken by the court presided over by Her Honour Patricia Amponsah.
The judge said she declined to hear any bail application by considering the grave nature of the case.
It was only the second accused person (Cypher), who was represented by counsel, Eric Ansah Awuah.
They were subsequently remanded into police custody until March 28, for their respective plea to be taken.
There was tight security at the court premises and immediately the case closed, the suspects were whisked away in a waiting police pick-up.
Case Facts
DSP Sylvester Asare, presenting the facts, told the court that Constables Ibrahim, Ofosu, Boadu and Jambedu are police officers, whilst Alhassan, is a scrap dealer.
He said in 2021, the police administration recorded series of street robberies as well as attacks on bullion vans, saying “the service mounted surveillance on the suspected robbers undertaking these unlawful activities within the capital.”
On February 22, 2022, the police received a report of an attack on a bullion van with registration number GN 424-14 at North Kaneshie, a suburb of Accra by some gunmen.
Subsequently, the police launched an investigation into the alleged robbery which led to the arrest of Const. Ansah alias Pablo (now deceased), who admitted the offence during interrogation, the prosecutor said.
He said further enquires led to the arrest of L/Cpl. Stephen Nyame (also deceased), and the suspects who are now in the dock.
“The accused persons, during interrogation, admitted that they took part in the multiple bullion van robberies recorded in the Greater Accra Region including the robbery which took place in February 2021 at Kingsway opposite the Freemason Society; Baastona Spintex Road in March 2021; and Jamestown-Adedenkpo incident in June 2021, which led to the untimely death of police Const. Emmanuel Osei.
That during investigation, the late L/Cpl. Nyame and Const. Ansah mentioned two Nigerians including one called Omor Naija as accomplices, and also told the police that some of the weapons used in the robberies were with the Nigerian accomplices around Ashaiman.
DSP Asare said on March 6, 2022, L/Cpl. Nyame and Const. Ansah led the police to a suburb of Ashaiman to apprehend the two Nigerians but the Ashaiman operation or raid resulted in an exchange of gunshots which later led to death of L/Cpl. Nyame and Const. Ansah, who sustained gunshots during the raid, but died later.
Second Statement
Per a statement signed by DCOP Kwesi Ofori, Director General, Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, two of the policemen were earlier arrested on suspicion of being involved in the series of bullion van robberies in Accra.
Earlier Statement
On Monday, the police issued a first statement, signed by Supt. Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, which mentioned that two policemen have been arrested in connection with the bullion van robberies recorded in the Greater Accra Region in recent times.
Before Court Date
Ahead of the maiden court appearance yesterday, DCOP Kwesi Ofori explained the circumstances leading to the killing of the two suspected policemen.
“They were made to understand that the police will take them to the hideout to assist in getting the other culprits and collaborators in the robberies and assist the police to retrieve dangerous weapons and implements that the gangs were using to cause the injuries and deaths,” he told Citi FM in Accra.
“Per the instructions given to the two suspects, they left to Borteyman to undertake that intelligence-led operation. By the arrangements, and to enable us to succeed and chance upon the criminals, the police cannot appear in the normal form that we know. They were asked to comport themselves, so it was normal going without the handcuffs because that could also cost the operation.
“So, as they approached the grounds, where the criminals were operating from, they fired at the police officers. The police also exchanged fire with them. In that complex-risky situation, the two sustained injuries. The police quickly took them to the Police Hospital for treatment, but they passed on.
“So what we can say is that, in that intelligence-led operation, we cannot talk about everything regarding our strategies and modus, but they had the responsibility as suspects to assist the police, but it just happened that, in that terrain, the unfortunate happened,” DCOP Kwesi Ofori noted.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey