The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested five persons suspected to be involved in the Fomena Bullion Van robbery attack in the region.
During that attack, a police officer, General Lance Corporal Baba Martin was killed.
According to the police, 10 persons are believed to be involved in the attack but 5 have so far been arrested after they launched an investigation into the incident.
Speaking at a news conference, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, COP Akwasi Mensah Duku, said all the 5 suspects who have been arrested have confessed to committing the crime after being interrogated by the police.
“If you recall, on that faithful day, a bullion van belonging to the Delta security company, which was transporting cash, an amount of GHS500,000 from the Ghana Commercial Bank, Dunkwa Branch to New Edubiase Branch was attacked and the police constable by name, General Lance Corporal Baba Martin was killed in the process. By the grace of God, and with credible information from the public, we have been able to arrest 5 of the suspects and are currently in our custody and assisting us with our investigations”
The 5 persons currently in police custody are 29-year-old Bismarck Owusu Ansah, 23-year-old Azuma Titus, 24-year-old Kofi Mathew , 30-year-old Kwadwo Agyapong and 26-year-old Martin Tei.
The police command says the suspected leader of the gang, a 22-year-old Senior High School graduate, John Appiah also known as Omega is still on the run.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has described him as a violent person and has urged the public to help apprehend him.
The suspects during the attack on the bullion van made away with GHS500,000 in cash.
The police however said only GHS53,934 of the amount in cash was retrieved after their arrest.
Other items retrieved include, 1 tricycle, 2 motorbikes, 2 Toyota vehicles, a sprinter bus and other personal items.
COP Akwasi Mensah Duku added that information reaching the command reveals that, the suspected leader John Appiah, in collaboration Martin Tei, one of the suspects who have been arrested were involved in the ambulance robbery attack that led to the death of the driver of the ambulance at Aseseeso in the Eastern Region.
The Ashanti Regional police command further stated that the group has also been involved in bullion van attacks in various parts of the country.
“The regional command has however mounted a manhunt for one John Appiah, (Omega), a 22-year-old Senior High School graduate who is said to be the leader of the robbery gang.”
The police command has assured that efforts are underway to get their accomplices arrested.