Kumasi-based armed robbers arrested in Sunyani

Sunyani, June 1, GNA - Two Kumasi-based alleged armed robbers have been arrested by the police in Sunyani while on their way to Techiman to sell an Opel Astra taxi cab they snatched from its owner at knife point at Antwikrom, near Sunyani.

Superintendent Charles Botwe, Sunyani Municipal Police Commander named the robbers as Alhassan Malik, 37, driver and Rockson Arthur, 28, carpenter. He told the GNA that at about 1600 hours on Friday May 30 this year, the alleged robbers hired the taxi cab with registration number BA 1490 Y driven by one Kwaku Edward in Sunyani and asked the driver to send them to Antwikrom where they alleged their KIA vehicle had broken down. The police commander said on reaching Antwikrom, the robbers instructed the driver to branch off the main Atronie road to another road where the KIA was, so he could help them to put it back on the road.

He said after moving to a distance, the robbers asked the driver to stop and hand over the keys to his vehicle to them and when the driver refused Malik drew a knife from his pocket and attempted to stab him and in the process Rockson also b rought out a rope from his pocket and tied it around the driver's neck. The robbers left the driver to his fate in the bush and sped away in the taxi but the driver managed to get to the road side and luckily got an oncoming vehicle that took him to the police station in Sunyani. Superintendent Botwe said the police quickly sent massages to all the police barriers as well as local FM radio stations in the region for the general public to be on the look-out for the stolen taxi cab. He said the police at Yawhima barrier near Sunyani arrested the car together with the robbers as they headed towards Techiman. Upon interrogation the robbers told the police they were invited by one Malik, a resident of Sunyani to come and assist him in robbery operations.

Superintendent Botwe said the police have mounted a search for the arrest of the Malik to assist in investigations, adding that, the two robbers would be arraigned on Monday on the charge of robbery. The Municipal police commander advised drivers to be wary of destinations passengers hired them to be taken to in the night and should always be accompanied by a friend or relative.