Police arrest more suspects in Gold Bullion Robbery

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - Police at the weekend arrested Corporal William Ofori Tetteh, 46 of the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, a fugitive suspect in the 1999 Highway Gold Robbery at Abutia junction near Apam in the Central Region.

Jack Beblie, an ex-serviceman and five others implicated in the robbery are serving a 15-year jail sentence each for masterminding and executing the robbery in February 1999.


Chief Superintendent Patrick Timbila, Head of Criminal Investigations, Operations told the Ghana News Agency that William was apprehended at Old Ningo after Police have trailed him from Awaham near Asamankese in the Eastern Region,


He said the suspect, who was visiting his wife's family before his arrest had a fierce struggle with officers from the CID headquarters and Panthers Unit before he was overpowered.


Mr Timbila said William attempted to travel to Belgium through Lome after the robbery but failed to secure the necessary documents for that purpose.


Meanwhile, another suspect, a soldier, who also escaped in that same robbery operation has been arrested and has been remanded into prison custody.

Mr. Timbila gave his name as Lance Corporal Bright Kpodo, who was apprehended at Keta in Volta Region after a tip off. He said Kpodo, who also belong to 48 Engineers Regiment fled after the robbery to Lagos, Nigeria, but later returned to Lome with the intention of travelling to Saudi Arabia, but was subsequently arrested when he decided to visit a friend at Keta.


According to Mr Timbila, three other suspects involved in the gold bullion robbery are still at large. They included Kennedy Beblie, a soldier and son of the Jack Beblie, leader of the group, Corporal Kamaza also of the 48 Engineers Regiment and Constable George Nyarko an official police escort, who compromised his position as police officer during the robbery and fled when his name was mentioned by the other accomplices.


He said Police would not relent in its efforts to track and arrest all robbery suspects on their wanted list.


In February 1999, a Gold Bullion Van from Amansie Resolute Resource Mining Company was intercepted and attacked at Abutia junction near Apam, while on its way to Accra and gold bullion valued at 2.4 billion cedis were seized.


Police investigations later revealed that the robbery was masterminded by Jack Beblie, an ex-police officer with security personnel from the Army and Police Service. Jack and five others were later jailed 15 years each with hard labour.