Stanchart Robbed of ?130m in 63 Days

ON THE 31st October, last year at about 10.00hrs GMT, a masked gunman walked into the crowded banking hall of the Spintex Road branch of Stanchart and after subduing everybody in sight robbed the bank of various sums in both local and foreign currencies.

This occurred a few minutes after the newly passed out Constable under probation sought permission to go and collect his salary from a bank in Tema.

The gunman, who then parked his car at the Johnson Wax area and entered the bank premises in a hired taxi before masking himself, made away with $7,124, ?5,720 and ?247,520.

Exactly 63 days after that incident in which the Constable was interdicted, a staff of the bank, a cleaner, had assumed the role of a robber.

He packaged ?25million into a food-box and went through the otherwise tight security from the private sector unnoticed.

Investigation by this reporter uncovered that on Tuesday, the first working day of the year, January 2, at about 0900hrs GMT, the bank's cash carrier, Mr. Adamu Seibu, entered the vault and was packaging money for the day's use out into a cubicle before distributing it to the various cashiers.

Our information was that the bank's obedient cleaner, 30-year-old Olando Kwaku, a Builsa from Fumbisi, went to the entrance of the vault to assist Mr. Seibu, the cash carrier.

He was reportedly handed ?50million cash which he sent to the cubicle as the cash carrier returned to the vault.

Olando Kwaku was reported to have gone out on two occasions with the food box to provide breakfast for some staff members.

He went out again the third time, this time not to purchase food but rather the food box was stuffed with ?25million from the bank.

He used the door where two private security guards from Goldcrest were on duty.

Their presence was to augment police effort after the first incident.

There was grumbling at the bank as staff grouped and talked about the stolen money.

It took 30 minutes before the incident was reported to the two policemen on duty at the main entrance.

Police on hearing of the theft went to comb the nearby bush only to be told by a woman that she saw a youngman with a loaded bag running from the bank direction.

The Tema Community 2 police when contacted said they were investigating.

Both Regional Commander, Agnes Sika Nartey, and District Crime Officer, ASP Antwi Boasiako said both thefts are being pursued vigorously.

Police sources however did not rule out the possibility of an inside job on both occasions.

A woman manager at the branch was dumbfounded when our undercover reporter attempted to know her reaction.

The two private security men were interrogated and released.

Chronicle will update you as events follow.