Two more persons in Court over Bullion Van Robberies

Two more persons have been nabbed and put before court for the various roles they allegedly played in connection with the bullion van robberies that took place in the Greater Accra Region.

The two persons are No 56597 G/Const Nelson Tetteh and Buba Zakari. alias Rasta.

Nelson and Buda are now standing trial with No. 58370 G/Const. Yaro Afisu Ibrahim, No. 58586 G/Const Albert Ofosu aka Cypher, No. 8355 G/Const Richard Boadu aka Osor, and 58525 G/Const. Rabiu Jambedu.

The six have been charged with attempt to commit a crime, namely robbery, and abetment of crime, namely robbery.

The five police officers and a civilian were arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court ‘10’, presided over by Mrs. Evelyn Asamoah, yesterday.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charged and were remanded into police custody to reappear before the court on June 2, 2022.

The facts as presented by the prosecuting officer, DSP Sylvester Asare, are that Yaro (A1), Albert (A2), Richard (A3), Rabiu (A4) and Nelson (A5) are Recruit Constables, whilst Buda (A6) is a motor mechanic.

He said sometime in the year 2021, the Ghana Police Service recorded a series of bullion van and street robberies within the Greater Accra Region.

According to him, the Police Service mounted surveillance on the suspected robbers undertaking this unlawful enterprise.

DSP Asare stated that on February 22, 2022, the police received a report that some armed men had attacked a bullion van with registration number GN 424-14 at North Kaneshie, a suburb of Accra, saying, “Upon receipt of the complaint, police commenced investigations into the alleged robbery.”

He narrated to the court that police investigations led to the arrest of Constable Reindolph Gyimah Ansah, alias Pablo, and Lance Corporal (L/Cpl.) Stephen Nyame (both deceased), while further investigations led to the arrest of the accused other persons.

The prosecuting officer added that preliminary investigation had disclosed that the recruit constables were friends and recruit mates at the Police Training School.

He indicated that the recruit constables, including the deceased officers, after their basic training, were posted to the National SWAT Unit, Police Headquarters, whilst Buda was posted to the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), Wa.

He stressed that when the constables were posted to their respective units, they underwent various tactical and specialised weapon training to equip them for the functions of their units, which includes the escort and protection of bullion vans.

“Further investigation had it that sometime in February 2022, the accused persons, including their deceased colleagues and those at large, agreed to attack and rob [a] bullion van with registration number GN 424-14,” he stated.

He continued that in pursuit of their agenda, the accused persons, on February 22, 2021, attacked a bullion van with registration GN 424-14 at North Kaneshie Industrial Area in Accra.

DSP Asare further told the court that the accused person, armed with AK 47 assault rifle, fired several shots into the bullet proof bullion van, which belonged to Mon Tran Ghana Limited.

“Further investigations also had it that the accused persons used two Royal motorbikes during the attack. Investigation revealed that A5 (Buda) owns a motor mechanic shop at Nsawam, and A6 is an employee and the person in charge of A5’s motor mechanic shop at Nsawam,” he added.

He further told the court that the investigation also had it that the two Royal motorbikes were the ones used for the robbery attack on that fateful day.

However, the strikers who sat behind the rider and did the firing during the robbery attack were A1 and A2.

The prosecutor added that: “Interestingly, a preliminary investigation has revealed that A3’s (Richard) role during the operation was to perambulate around the scene to monitor or spy to ensure the way and scene was clear for his accomplices to strike.

“Accused persons, during interrogation, partly admitted the robbery attack. Police investigation continues, as strenuous efforts are being made to apprehend the other accomplices.”

Source: Bernice Bessey || The Chronicle