4 Arrested in Bogoso Robbery

The Western Regional Police Command has made a major breakthrough in investigations into the robbery and murder at a gold refinery at Bogoso with the arrest of four of the suspected gang members.

The suspects — Fredrick Mensah, alias Nana One, 32; Mohammed Dawuda, 32; Bismarck Opoku, 34, and Charles Kwasi, alias Yaw Lee, 30 — have allegedly confessed that their gang of 10 men robbed Plat and Plume Gold Refinery Company at Bogoso.

The four, during interrogation, allegedly said they shared GH¢450,000 out of the money stolen during the attack but denied having a hand in the killing of Lance Corporal Nicholas Duku.

The armed robbery gang, late last Sunday afternoon, attacked the refinery, shot and killed the policeman after they had successfully robbed the company of GH¢900,000.

Planning the attack

Speaking to the Daily Graphic on Wednesday, the Western Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ms Olivia Ewuraabena Adiku, said the robbery was planned in Accra, with collaborators at Bogoso.

She stated that the suspects further told the police that the money stolen from the refinery was hidden in the bush, but when they went for it later, they found only GH¢450,000, which they shared.

She said the arrested suspects claimed their accomplices, now at large, were responsible for the murder of the policeman.

Lance Cpl Duku managed to escape after the first gunshot hit him but the robbers followed up and finished him off in another barrage of bullets.

Arrest

“These four suspects were arrested in a taxi trying to escape,” the PRO said.

Also in the taxi were the driver and another passenger.

“The four said when they took the money, they did not count it and that they hid it in a bush and when they returned to the location, they found only GH¢450,000, which they shared,” DSP Adiku said.

She said Mohammed and Mensah were tasked to be on standby to pick up the other suspects after the robbery and that the Nissan Rogue, with registration number GE 411-16, which was abandoned at the Valley Junction near Bogoso belonged to Mohammed.

She said Opoku was tasked to hide the money, while Yaw Lee was assigned to carry the money to a location for sharing.

DSP Adiku said a search on the vehicle revealed a police uniform without a name tag  and a beret.

She indicated that the police were yet to know how the robbers came by the uniform.

She added that the police had picked very important leads that would help them zero in on the other six suspects who are at large.

Meanwhile, the 32 people arrested on the day of the incident have been granted bail.

Source: Graphic Online