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General News of Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Source: GNA

Donkorkrom Police robbers remanded

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Two Police officers involved in the robbery of a bullion van belonging to the GCB bank Limited at Mame Krobo in the Eastern Region on Tuesday appeared before an Accra District Magistrate Court.

The alleged attack by the officers, General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah and General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa, led to the death of Daniel K Sarpong, the driver of the bullion van.

The other accomplice in the dock was Hafisu Mohammed aka Danjuma a mechanic.
The two officers are being held on the charge of attempted robbery, conspiracy and Murder.

Mohammed was charged with conspiracy.
The court, presided over by Mr Stephen Owusu did not take their plea and remanded them into Police custody to reappear on September 6.

The accused persons who appeared before the court without legal representation were informed by the court that they were entitled to lawyers of their choice.
On bail application, the court urged them to move to a higher court to seek bail as the Magistrate court had no jurisdiction in that respect due to the nature of the charges

Prosecution Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Abraham Annor said the deceased, Sarpong is the driver of the bullion van with registration number GN 1354-15.

The prosecution said the Police officers were stationed at Donkorkrom.
According to prosecution the officers hatched a plan of robbing the Bullion van of GCB which usually went to Donkorkrom to supply money to the bank.
On August 16 this year, the Police officers who were duty at GN Bank and GCB respectively, decided to rob the bullion van of the amount it was carrying.

The officers therefore discussed the robbery with Mohammed, who is a friend to the two and also a taxi driver. The officers therefore armed themselves with AK 47 Rifles and laid ambush at a spot between Tease and Mame Krobo at about 10:30 am.

Mohammed drove his taxi with registration number 1860-09 towards Ekye Amanfrom to monitor the arrival the bullion van.

Prosecution said 20 minutes later the bullion van arrived and Mohammed signalled the Police officers who then opened fire killing the driver of the van.

DSP Annor said a Police officer on board the van got injured but before that returned fire compelling the two Policemen to take cover in the bush.
The Police officers then called Mohammed who picked them with his car in their bid to escape.

The Police Command at Donkorkrom got wind of the robbery incident and they mobilised men who arrested the three accused persons on board the taxi cab.
Prosecution said two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of am munitions, a cutlass, two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi. The deceased body has been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital awaiting autopsy.

DSP Annor said three other occupants of the bullion van however, escaped unhurt and the Policeman on guard was treated discharged at the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital.