Police arrest suspected criminal

Page 53: Daily Graphic, July 23, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 28-year-old man, described by the police as a hardened criminal, was arrested yesterday morning at the Achimota Overhead.
George Aryeetey had been on the police wanted list since he engaged the police in an exchange of fire and escaped at Kwabenya six weeks ago, according to the police.
They say he is on record as having been convicted of a similar crime in 1999.
A pump action gun, three locally manufactured pistols, one empty shell and Aryeetey’s personal effects were retrieved from his room in a hotel.
He had scars from what the police said were bullet wounds on his legs, thighs and palm.
Two jewellery shops at Adabraka, with which Aryeetey was said to be associated, have been put under police guard after their owner, identified only as Alhaji and said to be the agent of Aryeetey and his gang for stolen jewellery, had absconded, leaving behind his Infinity 4x4 vehicle, with registration number GR 9943-09, on hearing that the police had arrested Aryeetey and were heading to the two shops, labelled Afebu Jewellery.
Police investigations revealed that Aryeetey, the ex-convict, had been lodging at the Akyaa Memorial Hotel for two weeks at a rate of GH¢30 per night. But there was no documentation at the hotel indicating that he was lodging there.
From Achimota to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters, people applauded the police for their efforts in dealing with the armed robbers, who have made many homes restless.
Aryeetey told the police and the media at his hotel, “I cannot count the number of robberies I have been engaged in.”
He, however, told the operational team, led by ACP Christian Yohuno, the Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, that after the Kwabenya incident, in which he was part of a gang that had robbed some Indians and Sri Lankans, he had been directing affairs from behind.
He had been imprisoned in 1999, he said, and had earlier been granted police enquiry bail in a similar robbery incident after his accuser allegedly exonerated him.
The Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, and his deputy, ACP Yohuno told newsmen yesterday that six weeks ago, there was a robbery incident at Kwabenya, near Accra, which resulted in a shoot-out with the police.
She said in the course of escaping, the taxi the robbers used, with registration number GN 6813 Y, ran into a ditch.
She said Aryeetey’s father, Johnson Yeboah, later reported to the Kwabenya Police that armed robbers had attacked and seized his taxi, which was found to be the same as what Aryeetey and his gang had used.
At the time, she said, the vehicle had been towed to the Regional Police Headquarters and a search led to a laptop suspected to have been stolen.
According to her, when Aryeetey’s father was referred to the Accra Police Headquarters, he confessed to lying and admitted that it was his son who had asked him to come and claim ownership of the taxi.
DCOP Atinga said the father was charged for abetment and was currently on court bail.
For his part, ACP Yohuno said Aryeetey was arrested at the Achimota Overhead yesterday morning with the support of some passers-by.
He said Aryeetey had been responsible for most of the robberies around Achimota, Dome Pillar One and Two and Kisseman.
He said it was some members of Aryeetey’s gang who had been planning to attack the Star Oil Filling Station last Sunday but who had been arrested.
He expressed his disappointment with hoteliers who hosted persons without checking their identities.
ACP Yohuno commended the public for their support in dealing with robbers and promised to sustain the fight.