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04.07.2006 Press Release

Kumasi Police Arrest 11 More Suspects

04.07.2006 LISTEN
By TIMES

ELEVEN suspected criminals, including a 13-year-old boy and two wanted armed robbers in the Ashnati Region, have been arrested by the police in Kumasi.

The suspects, who are reported to have been involved in four major operations, have been described by the police as “experts in armed robbery, mobile phone and bags snatching”.

At a news briefing here on Friday, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, ACP Frank Adu Poku, gave their names as Kwabena Azinabu, 20; Kofi Agyei, 26, a driver; Kwame Gruma, alias Kwaku Grushi, 26; Francis Appiah, 24 and Mobali Mohammed, 23.

Others are Collins Osei Yaw, alias “Obolo”, 22, described by the police as a notorious armed robber,” Kwame Gyimah, 22, Kwaku Duah and Majeed 18.

ACP Adu Poku said the 11th suspect, Frank Awal, 22, was arrested for posing as a military man and had on him some military gear.

ACP Adu Poku said at about 8 p.m. on June 20, Fosu, Azinabu and Agyei robbed a passenger of her mobile phone and pushed her out of a moving taxi-cab.

He said Agyei used to be a driver of the victim's father, driver so when she spotted him at Buokrom that evening she joined the taxi which was Kenyase bound.

On reaching the outskirts of Kenyase, a suburb of Kumasi, Agyei together with Fosu and Azinabu ordered the victim to bring out everything she had on her, ACP Adu Poku said.

Fearing for her life, she quickly brought out her mobile phone after which the suspects pushed her out of the moving cab and drove away.

She later reported the mater to the police and after investigations the three suspects were arrested and then allegedly confessed to the crime but told the police they had already sold the phone.

Gruma, Appiah and Mohammed, according to the Police Commander, were arrested for robbing a Kumasi mobile phone dealer of 100 phones at gun-point.

He said in an evening in May, the three allegedly laid ambush and attacked the victim, collected the 100 phones and bolted in a waiting taxi-cab.

They were arrested at different locations and according to the police, only 14 of the phones were retrieved as the suspects claimed they had sold the rest.

ACP Adu Poku said at about 11 p.m. on June 26, Majeed and two others now on the run, attacked a resident of Buokrom and robbed him of his mobile and ў500,000. Thus threatened to kill him if he dared report the matter to the police.

Majeed and his men were said to have told their victim that they were members of the area's neighbourhood watchdog committee.

However the victim, frightened by their threat, informed a friend who reported the case on his behalf to the police who managed to arrest Majeed.

The police are looking for Kwaku Duah, 23, another accomplice. In the fourth case, ACP Adu Poku said that Collins Osei Yaw 'alias Obolo and Kwame Gyimah, both 22, on June 16, at knife point, snatched the travelling bag and ў400, 000 of Kwame Danso, at the Kumasi Roman Hill.

The bag which was left with Gyimah, gave him away and he was arrested after which he led the police to arrest Obolo. Their two accomplices are however still on the run.

ACP Adu Poku said the Aboabo Neighbourhood Watchdog Committee at Aboabo on June 29 spotted Awal in a Military jacket and confronted him and he claimed he was a staff of the Ghana Air Force.

The committee members then demanded his identity card but Awal got offended and in an ensuing struggle they handed the matter to the police.

A search in Awal's room revealed a number of military gear, including an identification disc, a knife and some dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

Mr Adu Poku thanked the public for their cooperation in crime combating in the region.

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