Court adjourns committal proceedings of alleged Donkorkrom robbers

Committal proceeding for three persons, including two policemen, allegedly involved in the robbery of a bullion van belonging to the GCB Bank Limited at Mame Krobo in the Eastern Region has began at an Accra Central District Court.

The proceedings, which was to enable them to stand trial at a High Court was however halted when two of the accused persons informed the court that they were not well and not in the right frame of mind to answer questions from the court.

General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa told the court that his father was sick and that he was not in the right frame of mind to answer questions.

In the case of Hafisu Mohammed, aka Danjuma, a mechanic, who the court claimed had not complained to it, said he had chicken pox all over his body.

The court therefore adjourned the committal proceedings to September 29 for continuation.

The court presided over by Mr Stephen Owusu however completed the committal proceedings in respect of General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah and he is expected to stand trial at the High Court on October 23.

General Corporal (G/C) Mensah, who pleaded alibi, said although he knew the town where the incident took place, he could not tell the exact spot where the robbery happened.

He admitted that G/C Abrokwa was a friend and that whenever his phone develops a faulty he puts his chip in his (Abrokwah) phone.

According to G/C Mensah, Abrokwah, on the day of the incident told him to accompany him to collect an amount of GH¢2,500 from one Sule, who purchased charcoal from him.

G/C Mensah said Abrokwah promised to give him GH¢300 out of the amount.

He further told the court that he and Abrokwah joined Danjuma’s taxi and they went in search of the said Sule but to no avail.

According to G/C Mensah whiles returning from their journey, they were stopped by a Police vehicle and they were informed that they were under arrest.

G/C Mensah said they became confused because they were not aware of any robbery incident, adding that, they struggled and exchanged words with the arresting officers.

However, after a few explanations, they surrendered their AK 47 rifles to them.

The accused persons are General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah, General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa and Hafisu Mohammed, aka Danjuma, a mechanic.

They are being held on the charges of attempted robbery, conspiracy and murder. Mohammed has been charged with conspiracy.

The pleas of the accused persons have been reserved by the court.

The facts, as presented by prosecution earlier, indicated that, the police officers were stationed at Donkorkrom.

The officers hatched a plan of robbing the bullion van and on August 16, last year, the police officers, who were on duty at the GN Bank and GCB, discussed the robbery with Mohammed, who was a friend to the two and also a taxi driver.

The officers then armed themselves with AK 47 rifles and laid ambush at a spot between Tease and Mame Krobo at about 1030 hours on that fateful day.

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

The prosecution said 20 minutes after the bullion van arrived, Mohammed signalled the police officers, who then opened fire, killing the driver of the van.

Prosecution said a police officer on board the van, who got injured, managed to return fire compelling the two robbers to take cover in the bush. They then called Mohammed, who picked them up with his car in their bid to escape.

The Police Command at Donkorkrom got wind of the robbery incident and mobilised men, who arrested the three accused persons on board the Taxi.

The prosecution said two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of ammunitions, a cutlass, and two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi.

The deceased’s body was deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for autopsy.

Three other occupants of the bullion van, however, escaped unhurt whiles the policeman on guard was treated and discharged at the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital.

Meanwhile, the two Police Officers had already been sentenced to 36 months jail terms each for escaping lawful custody by an Mpraeso Circuit Court.