The woes of the four junior rank police officers embroiled in the bullion van robberies in Accra have increased, as they have been slapped with two more charges, and put before another Circuit Court judge.
The four, Constable Yaro Afisu Ibrahim, Constable Albert Ofosu, aka Cypher, Constable Richard Boadu, aka Osor, and Constable Rabiu Jambedu, who are already facing charges of attempted robbery and abetment of robbery have now been charged with additional two counts of conspiracy to robbery and robbery.
The junior police officers, according to court documents, attacked and robbed a bullion van with registration number GT 3521-X on February 27, 2021, at Kingsway in Accra,  and made away with GH¢80,400.
Court documents state that the accused persons, after the alleged robbery, fled the scenes on two motorbikes, which were waiting for them and ridden by Constable Yaro Afisu Ibrahim and Constable Albert Ofosu.
The police officers, together with some others who are on the run, are said to have taken part in a series of robbery activities within Accra between February 2021 and February 2022.
Lawyers for the accused persons had pleaded with the court to grant them bail, pending the determination of the case, assuring the court that they will show up for the trial.
Divine Dotse, counsel for Constable Richard Boadu, aka Osor, and Constable Rabiu Jambedu, in his application told the court that the charges against his clients are mere allegations, and will not stand the test of time.
He said the accused persons are junior rank police officers, and for that matter do not have the capacity to interfere with any witness, and will not in any way hamper police investigations.
He added that the accused persons are not flight risk and will avail themselves for the trial when granted bail.
The applications were opposed by the prosecution, led by DSP Sylvester Asare, who argued that considering the nature of the offence and the punishment the accused are likely to face when found guilty, they will not show for the trial if granted bail.
He said the accused persons have not been confirmed as Constables yet, hence will have nothing to lose if they decide to leave the jurisdiction when granted bail.
The court, presided over by Adelaide Abui Keddey, in her ruling, indicated that robbery is a serious offence, and considering the punishment the accused are likely to face when found guilty, she was not satisfied they will appear for the trial when granted bail.
She, therefore, remanded the accused into police custody, and ordered the police to file their disclosures within 14 days, adding that the court will ensure an expeditious trial of the matter.
The brief facts of the case indicate that on February 27, 2022, the police received a report that some armed robbers had attacked a bullion van with registration number GT 3521-X at Kingsway in Accra.
According to DSP Asare, police investigations led to the arrest of Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah, alias Pablo and Lance Corporal Stephen Nyame (both deceased), who both admitted the offence and mentioned the four officers and one  other at large as their accomplices.
He added that preliminary investigations disclosed that the accused persons were friends and recruit mates at the Police Training School, and together with the deceased officers after their basic training were posted to the National SWAT unit where they underwent various tactical and specialised weapon training to equip them for functions including the escort of bullion vans.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak