3 arrested over highway gold ore robbery attempt

Three persons who allegedly attempted to waylay and rob a vehicle carrying gold-ore in transit from the G.F.O Mining Company’s site at Atwima-Abodiase in the Ashanti Region, have been arrested by the police in Ashanti.

The suspects, Kofi Karkari, a farmer aged 32, James Osei Owusu Tiller, 27 and Kofi Asare, all residing at Nweniso number one, a farming community near the mining site, are in the custody of the police.

A fourth person, Kofi Afriyie, an employee of the Mining Company is on the run.

Assistant Commander of Police (ACP) Kwaku Osei Ampofo Duku, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander told a press briefing in Kumasi that, the vigilance of the Assembly man for Abodiase, whose name was not given, foiled the robbery attempt.

The suspects after hatching the plan, decide to carry out the robbery on May 23, 2015 at about 1730 hours, and armed with locally-made guns and machettes they laid ambush after blocking the Nweniso –Abodase stretch of the road, and waited for the truck conveying the ore.

The Assemblyman, who had already got wind of the plan, also organized a team and also laid ambush with locally-made guns around the same spot to abort the robbers plan.

ACP Duku said as the Company’s Ford Pick-up with registration number, GE3826-1 approached, the suspects suddenly emerged from their hide-out and in a desperate move to steal the precious metal ore, pulled one Otu from the vehicle and suspect Karikari, in a struggle with Otu inflicted deep machete wound on him.

At this point, the Assemblyman’s group also emerged and amidst sporadic gunshots gave the fleeing suspects a hot chase, Karikari together with Asare and Tiller were arrested and later handed over to the police whilst Afriyie slipped through.

ACP Duku said, the suspects admitted the crime and have been arraigned whilst a duplicate docket have been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for study and advice.

Meanwhile, Afriyie is being hunted for.