The suspects
Four police officers standing trial for their alleged involvement in the recent bullion van robberies in the country have been denied bail for the fourth time by an Accra Circuit Court ‘10’.
Lawyers of Constable Yaro Affisu Ibrahim (A1), represented by Justin Pwavra Teriwaja, Constable Albert Ofosu (A2), represented by David Bondorin and Eric Ansah Awuah, Constable Richard Boadu (A3), represented by Divine Dotse, and Constable Rabiu Jambedu (A4), represented by Jango Nuhu, all pushed for a bail application for their clients after having been denied bail for the third time in their previous attempt.
However, the presiding judge, Evelyn Asamoah, denied the bail application, citing the nature of the case and the severity of the punishment involved.
She has, therefore, ordered the prosecution to file their disclosures, while the case has been adjourned to May 17, 2022.
Earlier, lawyer Justin Pwavra Teriwaja, counsel for Yaro Affisu had told the court that the accused officers have been in court for two months already, and it appeared the prosecution was using detention before trial as punishment.
He noted that sureties had been prepared and ready if the bail application was granted.
DSP Sylvester Asare, prosecuting, also told the court that the police officers had nothing to lose if they refused to appear before the court after being granted bail.
To buttress his point, the prosecutor said the accused persons were still serving their probation in the service.
He also added that the accused persons were standing trial at a different court in another robbery case, and prayed that the court dismiss the bail application.
Three of the accused persons wearing white T-shirt on black jeans trousers, wept uncontrollably when their bail application were denied.
Some family members of the accused persons who were optimistic that their relatives could be granted bail also stood in shock and dismay as their accused relatives were whisked away in a white police pickup.
Brief Facts
The brief facts of the case are that the police administration in 2021, recorded series of street robberies as well as attacks on bullion vans, and 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.
investigations led to the arrest of Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah alias Pablo and Lance Corporal Stephen Nyame (both deceased), who both 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 Constable Emmanuel Osei.
DSP Asare, reading the facts, indicated that the accused persons who had specialised weapon training to equip them for functions of the SWAT unit, which include escort of bullion van, had agreed with their deceased colleagues and those at large to attack the bullion van with registration number GN 424-14.
He said the accused persons on February 22, 2021, during their botched bullion van robbery at North Kaneshie, fired several shots into the bullet proof van.
He said further investigations revealed that General Constable Rabiu Jambedu and one suspect at large were those who rode Royal motorbikes, which were used on the day of the attack, while Yaro Affisu Ibrahim and General Constable Albert Ofosu aka Cypher sat behind the motorbikes and did the firing during attack.
He added that General Constable Richard Boadu also rode another motorbike and kept watch in the area to ensure the way was clear for his colleagues to undertake the robbery.
BY Linda Tenyah-Ayettey