The names of the suspects have been given by the police as Corporal Bernard Tsagli, a soldier attached to the 37 Military Hospital; Corporal Isaac Amejor, a policeman attached to the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) Unit at the Police Headquarters, and Crosby Ofori, aka Fiifi, unemployed.

They are said to have been harassing their victims and taking money from them at gunpoint.

Complaints

Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr George Alex Mensah, said the police had received numerous complaints from persons who had fallen victim to the operations of the soldier and his accomplices.

He said most of the victims, who were accosted after withdrawing various amounts of money from their bank accounts, claimed they were falsely arrested by some men in military and police uniforms on allegations that they (the victims) had obtained their money through fraud.

Mr Mensah said one of the victims had reported to the police that four military men in uniform who were using a taxi had dragged her from a public commercial vehicle, claiming they were arresting her for cashing money she had obtained through cybercrime from a bank.

He added that the suspected robbers allegedly collected GH¢4,000 from the victim at gunpoint and later abandoned her at a place.

Another victim is also said to have reported to the La-Bawaleshie Police that about 3:30 p.m. on February 2, 2018, four men in police and military uniforms aboard a taxi cab robbed him of GH¢2,265 at gunpoint.

Most of the victims said they were robbed after withdrawing money from the Mile Seven branch of the Global Access Bank, while others said they were attacked at Lapaz, the Spintex Road, Abattoir and some other parts of Accra.

Police intelligence, according to Mr Mensah, showed that the suspected robbers sometimes laid ambush near a bank to monitor their victims, trail and attack them on the road or in their homes.

He noted that the police arrested the three suspects, based on intelligence, at the Mile 7 Goil Filling Station while they were trying to take money from one of their victims.

He said the police had since commenced investigations into the matter.

Earlier arrest

This is the second time that Corporal Tsagli has been arrested in connection with a similar crime.

On May 14, 2017, he was arrested, together with a taxi driver, when he pulled over a taxi at the Nhyiraba Kojo City Night Club, near the Sakumono Community 18 Global Access Bank in Accra after he had allegedly collected GH¢1,500 from one of his victims.

During a search on the two suspects after their arrest, the police retrieved a taser and a pair of handcuffs believed to have been used to harass their victims.

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Source: Graphic.com.gh

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The plea of Kofi Gee was not taken and he will make his next appearance on Tuesday, February 27.

His accomplice, whose name was not given, is however on the run.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Philip Jagri told the court, presided over by Madam Patricia Amponsah, that the incident happened on January 22, in the night.

The victim, Lance Corporal Evans Kwame Yeboah, together with his wife, had visited a pastor friend at Dompoase-Aprabon in Kumasi and had excused himself to receive a call on his phone outside the house, when he saw the accused and his fugitive accomplice approaching.

Not suspecting anything, he continued his call when, all of a sudden, he saw Gee pointing a locally manufactured pistol at him.

He was joined by his colleague, who removed the soldier’s wallet containing cash of GH¢600.00 from his pocket.

The prosecution said the victim threw his iPhone to Gee who signaled to his colleague to pick it and to bring a motorbike they had parked not far from the place.

The other person, while rushing for the motorbike slipped and fell into a gutter and that provide an opportunity for the soldier to engage Gee in a fierce struggle.

The accused was overpowered as he let go of the gun but the other person managed to escape with the phone and cash.

ASP Jagri said the police recovered a loaded locally-made pistol and one ‘BB’ cartridge, motorbike and its ignition key together with Gee’s Nokia phone from the crime scene.

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Source: GNA

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According to the DCE, the military men had taken about 80 men hostage, while women and children have been camped in a church in the town.

[contextly_sidebar id=”smLeVuLDnoXAzrHUUr0D4LcDtKWRBtJ2″]This follows the killing of one Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama in the area on Monday.

The residents allegedly claimed Captain Mahama, who at the time was not in military uniform, was a robber, and thus lynched and burnt him at Diaso, a small town in Denkyira-Obuasi.

Although the military said it has deployed it’s men to investigate the issue, some of its officers according to the DCE are currently brutalizing the residents.

“I was at the scene, they’ve arrested a lot of men, they’ve beaten a number of them, they’ve camped women and children in a church. What happened when the robbery happened? Didn’t we realize that we need to bring security to come and protect the people?  One person is dead and it is bringing the entire military to the place. This is the country we are living in.”

He added that “I’ve seen it myself, at least I saw about 80 men lined up on the floor. The women and children have been camped in a church. The military people were saying that unless they get their gun, they are not living them. I spoke to their commander; I went there with my district police commander, BNI and other security operatives in the district. The security men are saying they will only leave when they retrieve their gun.”

He further lamented that the issue is causing heightened tension in the town saying “the area is almost empty.”

Mahama was deployed to fight galamsey – Uncle

The late Mahama’s uncle, Fred McBagonluri on the Citi Breakfast Show, said his nephew was part of a security team deployed to the town to fight illegal mining.

“He told us that there was some galamsey activities happening in the area which is like the epiccentre of this criminal enterprise and that on their arrival, they realized that the perpetrators of this trade have actually moved their equipment further into the forest. And now it was really difficult for them to really get access to them. They can hear machines operating; but far inside the forest. These were his last words to a friend of mine,” he added.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The late Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama, was lynched and burnt on Monday by some youth at Diaso, a small town in Denkyira-Obuasi who mistook him for an armed robber.

[contextly_sidebar id=”kFCrVOxYNbDpeoUNyjYsOc86B0GgAAQN”]There is currently heightened anxiety in the town after the perpetrators of the heinous crime realized the deceased was a military man.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, Mahama’s uncle, Fred McBagonluri, lamented the gruesome murder of his nephew.

“He told us that there was some galamsey activities happening in the area which is like the epiccentre of this criminal enterprise and that on their arrival, they realized that the perpetrators of this trade have actually moved their equipment further into the forest. And now it was really difficult for them to really get access to them. They can hear machines operating, but far inside the forest. These were his last words to a friend of mine,” he added.

Mahama always wanted to be a soldier  

Mr. McBagonluri also eulogized his nephew who he said “loves his work.”

“He went into the army very young; Adams should be in his early 30s. This guy lives and breathes the army; he loves that flag. He always wanted to be a soldier. I’m hoping that nobody else has to die. I think that Adam’s death is enough and that we should find a better way of living in peace,” he added.

Investigations begin

The Ghana Armed Forces has commenced investigations into the murder of Captain Mahama.

The Armed Forces in a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations, Col. Aggrey-Quarshie, said a fact-finding team led by the Chief of Army Staff is proceeding to the area to gather more information about the development.

“A high-powered fact-finding team led by the Chief of the Army Staff is proceeding to the scene of the incident to ascertain the facts of the case,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, some soldiers have reportedly stormed the town, where they have held a bout 80 men hostage. According to the DCE for the area, the soldiers have beaten some of the men. He said some women and children have also been detained in a church building.

War on galamsey

Galamsey is term used to refer to small scale illegal miners. Persons who undertake this work usually operate independent of mining companies.

In the past, these galamseyers use crude tools by entering pits or tunnels to extract gold from the ground, but in recent times some are using sophisticated tools and excavators.

They have thus destroyed a lot of water bodies and farm lands. Analysts have predicted that Ghana may soon import water if the menace is not stopped.

Government has waged war on galamsey, and has suspended all forms of small scale mining for a period of six months.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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One of the uprising’s leaders said the soldiers were “ready to fight” if attacked.

Sergeant Seydou Koné said they did not want to negotiate with anyone, according to Reuters news agency.

The unrest began after a spokesman for the soldiers announced on Thursday that they had dropped their pay demands.

In January, they forced the government into paying them about $8,000 (£6,200) each in bonuses to end a rebellion. They were due to receive a further payment this month and about 8,000 mutineers are unhappy that they were not consulted ahead of Thursday’s televised announcement.

The military chief of staff, General Sékou Touré, had threatened “severe disciplinary sanctions” on Friday if the uprising did not end. Shops are closed and soldiers are patrolling and firing in the air in Bouaké, residents said.

The mutineers have also taken control of the city of Odienne, in the north, reports say, with gunfire heard in other cities.

On Friday, shots were fired in the air at military bases in Abidjan, Bondoukou in the east, Bouaké in the centre, and Korhogo in the north.

It is believed the mutineers were firing blanks.

In response, elite Republican Guard troops in Abidjan fired warning shots that pushed the mutineers back the inside the military headquarters compound in Abidjan, Reuters reported. The situation in the city on Saturday was said to be calm.

Reacting to the spreading unrest, President Alassane Ouattara held an emergency meeting of the country’s security council.

The mutiny has raised fears of a resurgence of the violence seen during Ivory Coast’s 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.

Many of the mutineers in January were thought to be former rebels who joined the army after the conflict.

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Source: BBC

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