GCB bullion van robbery: I’ve been fasting since my arrest – Policeman

One of the Policemen involved in the robbery of a bullion van, belonging to the GCB Bank Limited, at Mame Krobo in the Eastern Region has told a district court that he has been “fasting in cells always,” since his arrest.

General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa said he has no money to buy food in cells and was compelled to fast.

Abrokwa said he cannot have access to his money, which was taken by the Police as part of his exhibits and that the Police does not provide him food.

He informed the court that he has money in his account and needs his ATM card to enable him to withdraw money.

This came to light when the Judge, Mr Stephen Owusu enquired from Daniel how he was doing and whether everything was alright.

The court also mentioned that it had in its possession, a letter from a solicitor, acting on behalf of Hafisu Mohammed aka Danjuma.

According to the court the lawyer was praying the court to furnish him with the court proceedings to enable him to defend the accused.

The investigator explained that the exhibits in the bag were not related to the trial.

However, he said the Police was making internal arrangement to address his case.

Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.A. Annor told the Court that the Police was almost done with their investigations, that they would be handing over the docket to the Criminal Investigation Department for onward transfer to the Attorney General’s office.

DSP Annor said General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah one of the accused could not attend court because he has been taken ill and gone to the Hospital.

The alleged attack by the officers – General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah and General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa – led to the death of Daniel K Sarpong, the driver of the bullion van.

The other accomplice in the dock is Hafisu Mohammed, aka Danjuma, a mechanic.

The two officers 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, however, been reserved by the Court.

The facts, as presented by DSP Annor, indicated that the Police officers were stationed at Donkorkrom.

He said the officers hatched a plan of robbing the bullion, and on August 16, the Police officers, who were on duty at the GN Bank and GCB, decided to rob the bullion van.

The officers, therefore, discussed the robbery with Mohammed, who was a friend to the two and also a taxi driver.

The officers, therefore, armed themselves with AK 47 Rifles and laid ambush at a spot between Tease and Mame Krobo at about 1030 hours.

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

The Prosecution said 20 minutes later, the bullion van arrived and Mohammed signaled the Police officers who then opened fire, killing the driver of the van.

DSP Annor 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.

The Police officers then called Mohammed, who picked them 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 cab.

The Prosecution said two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of am munitions, a cutlass, two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi.

The deceased’s body has been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital awaiting autopsy.

DSP Annor said three other occupants of the bullion van, however, escaped unhurt while the Policeman on guard was treated and discharged at the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital.