In the Eastern Region’s Lower West Akim Municipality, five men were taken into police custody after being accused of armed robbery in the town of Akyem Akanteng.
Among those arrested were four military personnel, an immigration officer, and a private security guard. The security officers were detained by Koforidua Circuit Court B, under the jurisdiction of Judge Matilda Ribeiro.
Two of the suspects, Sergeant Mensah Dominic, 41, and Lance Corporal Tetteh Wayo, 43, both work at the government’s official residence (Jubilee House); another, Lance Corporal Nyarko Bernard, 28, works at the ABF’s Tamale Command Unit; and the third, PTE/Eric Anim, 23, works at the 11th Mechanised Infantry Battalion in Accra but is on leave at the moment.
The other two suspects are a 27-year-old immigration officer named Richard Okyere who works for the Ministry of the Interior and a 28-year-old private security guard named Kelvin Marfo who works for the 5th Hour Mining Company in Akyem Akwatia.
According to the charge sheet presented to the court, on November 10, 2023, Richard Okyere, an immigration officer, drove a Mitsubishi L200 with the registration number GS-1116-11 to the Jubilee House to pick up two military officers, then drove to Pokuase to pick up two more military men, and finally drove to Asamankese to pick up the final suspect. The group then travelled to Akyem Akanteng.
The suspects, who were armed with military rifles and dressed in military uniforms, broke into the home of the complainant, a 55-year-old Cocoa purchasing clerk at Akyem Akanteng named Ofori Samuel, at 3:00 am on November 11, 2023, and demanded GH100,000.
The frightened complainant explained that he had no money but could offer them $10,000 in cash, which could be raised by selling 5 grams of gold ore worth GH29,000. The suspects then allegedly forced the victim back into his room, stole the gold, and fled in a vehicle.
The victim reported the robbery to the Akwatia Police Commander and an officer in Osenase right away. The suspects were not fortunate in their endeavour, as they were captured by law enforcement upon their arrival at the Osenase police checkpoint.
The suspects were taken to the Akwatia Police Station, where they turned over two military rifles with serial numbers A0082460 and A0056937, four magazines, 62 rounds of live ammunition, and a helmet.
The prosecution asserts that the first defendant turned over the five pounds of gold ore that the complainant claimed the defendants had stolen from him while under questioning by the District Commander in front of other police officers.
The individuals who have been accused are facing charges on two counts, particularly the charge of conspiracy to commit a crime. All parties involved are scheduled to return to court on November 28, 2023.
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