Two police officers are arrested for stealing sixteen assault rifles. Present Yourself in Court from the Police Counterterrorism Armoury

Due to their suspected involvement in the theft of sixteen CZ assault rifles from the Ghana Police Service's arsenal, two police officials have been placed under remand in custody by Accra Circuit Court 10, which is presided over by Her Honour Justice Evelyn Asamoah. Charges of stealing and abetment to steal were brought before the court by Lance Corporal William Atia Asitanga, age 32, and Lance Corporal Sulemana Zanya Abdul-Rahman, age 27. To the charges, the two cops have entered not guilty pleas. Lance Corporal Asitanga was assigned as an armorer at the National Counter Terrorism Department in Accra in March 2024, where he was in charge of overseeing the department's weapons and ammunition, according to the prosecution, which was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye.

During that time, an internal audit discovered that 16 CZ Assault Rifles had vanished from the department's arsenal. An investigation was launched right away after Lance Corporal Asitanga, who was solely responsible for the weapons, failed to account for them. The firearms were purportedly stolen by Asitanga, according to preliminary investigations. After more investigation, his colleague Lance Corporal Abdul-Rahman, who was assigned to Asiwa, Bekwai District in the Ashanti Region, was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the crime. The suspects are to be remanded into police custody while the inquiry is ongoing, the judge has decided. They are expected to return to court at a later time that the prosecution determines. Both of the accused cops are now helping with continuing investigations, the prosecutor informed the court. August 20, 2025 has been set as the new date for the case.

Source: thechronicle.com.gh