Masked men rob NRC officials

Sunyani, March 26, GNA - Two armed masked men on Thursday night broke into the room of a bodyguard and a driver of the National Reconciliation Commission at the Catering Rest House and escaped with 1.5 million cedis.

A statement issued on Friday by the Commission signed by Mr. Mohammed Affum, acting Director of Public Affairs, said the men, who were armed with a pump action gun and a pistol ordered the guard and the driver to show them where the money was.

They further asked where the "big man" was, the statement added. It said after taking the money, the armed robbers locked the guard and the driver up in the bathroom, whilst one of them took the keys to the Commissioner's vehicle parked in the premises, opened it and searched for money and other valuables.

The statement said moments later, the bodyguard raised the alarm and the robbers fled, leaving behind their pump action gun but took away the AK 47 assault rifle and pistol of the bodyguard.

The rifle was, however, later retrieved from a nearby bush early on Friday morning, the statement said, adding that no Commissioner was lodging at the rest house.

It said the incident had been reported to the Regional Police Command and the pump action gun had been sent to the police who are conducting investigations.

The National Reconciliation Commission is currently holding public hearings in Sunyani, which will end on Saturday, March 27. When contacted Chief Superintendent Osei AsibeyAhenkan, Sunyani district Police Commander confirmed the incident and said a worker lodging at the rest house was earlier on Thursday night also robbed of 900,000 cedis by armed men.

He said the police were investigating and no arrests had been made. 26 March 04