Bullion van robbery: AG yet to study docket

The Attorney General’s (AG’s) Department has now assigned a schedule officer to study the docket and advise on the case of three persons, allegedly involved in the robbery of a GCB Bank bullion van at Mame Krobo in the Eastern Region.

Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Simon Apiorsornu, told the district court, presided by Mr. Stephen Owusu, that Sergeant Devine Tornu, investigating the case, contacted the AG and received information that an attorney had been assigned to study the docket.

Mr Owusu noted that often when the Police complete investigations and send the docket to the AG, ‘it gets stuck’.

The court adjourned the case to March 9, awaiting advice on the docket from the AG.

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

The two police personnel are being held on the charges of attempted robbery, conspiracy and murder, while Mohammed has been charged with conspiracy.

The pleas of the accused persons have not been taken.

The court heard that the police personnel, who were stationed at Donkorkrom, in the Eastern Region, planned and robbed the bullion van on August 16, last year.

The police personnel, who were on duty at the GN Bank and GCB Bank, discussed the robbery with Mohammed, who was a friend to the two, and a taxi driver.

The prosecution said the police personnel armed with AK 47 rifles laid ambush at a spot between Tease and Mame Krobo at about 10:30 am on that fateful day.

Mohammed drove his taxi 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, who opened fire, killing the driver of the van.

A policeman on board the van was injured, but managed to return fire, compelling the two robbers to take cover in the bush.

The attackers called Mohammed, who covered them in his car in a bid to escape.

The police command at Donkorkrom received information on the incident, and mobilised some policemen, who arrested all the three accused on board the cab.

The prosecution said two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of ammunitions, a cutlass, and two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi, and the deceased’s body had been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital awaiting autopsy.

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