Front Page: Daily Graphic, November 20, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
MOBILE phone service providers in the country have been given up to Christmas to comply with a National Communications Authority (NCA) directive which requires them to initiate the process of registering all new SIM card subscribers.
Making its intervention in Accra yesterday, the National Security Council Secretariat said the delay by the mobile phone operators to register their SIM card holders was facilitating the rate at which criminals used mobile phones to threaten citizens and commit other crimes, after which the SIM cards were discarded.
Although the mobile phone operators are asking for more time due to resource constraints, the Security Council Secretariat and the NCA believe the operators are delaying unduly.
The Head of Public Information at the secretariat, Mrs Jackie Annan, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that the delay in the registration of the SIM cards was disturbing.
She referred to a May 5, 2009 Daily Graphic publication in which the operators were directed to speed up the process of registering the SIM cards to help identify customers.
The National Security Co-ordinator, Lt Col Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, also expressed concern over the fact that criminals often intensified their activities bordering on kidnapping, Sakawa and advanced fee fraud when Christmas was approaching.
According to him, with the success the police had chalked up in combating violent crime, the security agencies needed to deal with technological crime, noting that it was only when SIM cards were registered that the owners or users could be appropriately identified to facilitate investigations.
He said it was unacceptable in these times for anyone to be able to buy a sim card off the street which could not be traced to a specific person, whereas in other countries that was not the situation.
He said the registration of sim cards would enable the security agencies to identify those who used the technology to commit crime.
Lt Col Gbevlo-Lartey said security was a need-driven effort which warranted a continuing analysis of the security situation, as well as the predisposition of existing institutions to handle any emerging security threats.
“Our analysis of these emerging developments will dictate the required responses and that is why we expect the operators to initiate the process by Christmas,” he added.
He observed that kidnapping had become a real threat all over the West African sub-region and said Ghana was positioned to address the challenges, especially with the discovery of oil and its attendant businesses.
The security co-ordinator said the mobile phone operators were being asked to start the registration of SIM cards with the issuance of new ones, while they initiated programmes to register existing customers over a period of time.
He said a public education exercise would be mounted for members of the public, particularly those already using SIM cards, to appreciate the importance of the exercise.
The Head of the Legal Directorate of the NCA, Mrs Abena Asafu Adjei, said although there was no specific regulation compelling mobile phone operators to register SIM cards, the general mandate of the NCA, which required it to protect the public interest, was enough grounds to issue directives to the mobile phone operators.
She, however, said discussions had been held with the Attorney-General’s Department for the processes of passing specific legislation regarding the registration of SIM cards, stressing that it was done all over the world.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The fight against armed robbery ... so far, so ....
Page 34: Daily Graphic, November 19, 2009.
By Albert K. Salia
IN an article in the May 19, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic, the writer raised pertinent issues that were confronting the Ghana Police Service. The writer indicated that for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, to succeed, those issues, some of which bordered on professionalism, ethics, right leadership, motivation and patronage, needed to be addressed.
It was also suggested that a Crime Intelligence Unit be established within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to source intelligence on crime and criminality to enhance proactive policing.
The IGP was also reminded of the fact that he could not afford to disappoint the President and the personnel of the Service who see him as someone to turn around the fortunes of the service.
Almost six months on assumption of office, the IGP has so far proved that he is a man of deeds, whose paramount objective is to provide leadership to the rest of the personnel.
The successes of the Ghana Police Service in fighting violent crime, particularly armed robbery in the last few months, is very heart-warming. Gradually, the lingering fear and the sense of insecurity among the populace as a result of the prevalence of armed robbery and other forms of criminality is giving way.
What is particularly heart-warming to some of us has been the ability of the police to arrest some of the perpetrators of those violent crimes even after the offences had been committed. The police have also been able to identify suspected robbers arrested as belonging to the same gangs involved in past undetected crimes. It should be noted that because past robberies and other crimes went undetected, it gave the perpetrators a false sense of security and courage to continue their activities with impunity. With the police going back to old files to trail criminals, it should send signals that they can run but for how long?
The police have also been able to closely monitor some of those robberies right from their planning stages up to the points of commission, resulting in the Accra Regional Police Command alone successfully busting more than 60 armed robberies by between June and September, this year, while 10 attempted robberies were foiled. More than 100 suspects have also been arrested.
Besides, the police have so far been able to identify a particular brand of cars as the most preferred for the commission of violent crimes. Most often, either the robbers dispossess you of such a vehicle or they use their own, which had been acquired for such purposes.
All these indicate that the security agencies are conducting intelligence-based mission-oriented operations to clamp down on identified criminal gangs.
Maybe, a rundown of some of the successes will suffice. After terrorising residents of Dzorwulu and Abelenkpe, during which a gym instructor, Daniel Owusu Sekyere was killed, the suspected robbers, Kwabena Buadi, Bright Agyei, alias Kudwo, William Dorglo, Francis Bediako, Danlad Ibrahim, among others, were arrested. A bunch of other robbers, whose speciality was to trail persons arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their houses before robbing them have also been arrested.
The operations of another robbery group, including suspects Ebenezer Obese, Napoleon Gomez and Obuor, which had been attacking filling stations since 2008, was brought to an end on August 22, 2009 when they were arrested. The arrest of suspect Kwabena Takyi, who is alleged to be part of the gang that killed Chief Inspector Nyame in Kumasi, was also arrested while on his way to rob a prominent footballer at Kakasunanka.
A number of weapons, including pistols, pump action guns, machetes, knives, clubs and ammunition, cars, motorcycles, talisman, mobile phones and laptops were retrieved from the suspects. Certainly, the police deserve commendation and thumbs up.
One could feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness on the faces of the IGP, Mr Paul Quaye, and his top officials during a press conference to announce the successes chalked up by the police in dealing with violent crime.
It shows that given the requisite logistical support and motivation, the police can deliver to make Ghana more peaceful and safe. That would require more governmental support. The presidential backing to support the police to deliver is certainly working out for all Ghanaians. As Mr Quaye said at the press conference, sometimes it is not always monetary incentives that provides motivation, but a handshake, a certificate and an assurance that your leaders are behind you is encouraging enough for personnel to work even harder. That is true, Mr IGP, I also hope that the Police Administration, apart from dealing with all outstanding promotion issues, the personnel who have so far proved their might in making Ghanaians enjoy the present peace be also promoted, even if it is just a step above their present ranks. At least, that would also cushion their salary levels.
While commending the police for the successes so far, the Police Administration needs to seriously look within its fold to address some lapses, which might negate all the achievements. The lapses include shoddy investigations, which might result in known or self-confessed armed robbers being set free by courts. Although the courts have been accused of acquiting and discharging suspects, a close study of the case would indicate that the investigators did not do their work well.
Furthermore, the leadership of the police at all levels must exercise proper supervision of their subordinates to ensure that at every point of investigation or in pursuit of any operation, the superiors are well-informed and provided the necessary guidance. At least, at the Accra Regional Police Command, a lance corporal was interdicted for granting police enquiry bail to a suspected armed robber, without the knowledge of the superiors. There have also been instances where investigators fail to renew remand warrants of suspects, resulting in the suspects lawyers securing bail for them at the courts.
After all, of what benefit is it to the public and the police, if after risking their lives day and night to deal with miscreants in society, the suspects are unleashed back into society for want of prosecution?
While appreciating whatever support the Government has provided the police, it could still do more in the area of providing more than enough bullet-proof vests for the Ghana Police Service. More durable vehicles are also needed, as well as communication gadgets for the police. Sometimes, the delay in responding to distress calls is because a patrol team could be far off from the area of crime, while those close to the area do not have a vehicle to move immediately.
The Government must be particularly commended for supporting the Police Service with financial incentive, which is being used to motivate citizens, that is, the informant reward system to provide valuable pieces of information and clues towards crime detection. All the agencies and personalities, right from the Presidency, the National Security Council Secretariat and civil society organisations to the ordinary man in the street, deserve commendation. They have played their part well so far in terms of support, strategy, operations, tactics and co-operation.
Members of the public and organisations must also come in one way or the other to support the police in their respective communities. The public and the organisations appreciate the challenges confronting the police in their localities and must rise up to the task of supporting them. However, the donors should not hide behind such assistance for perpetrating crime or abusing the laws of the land, thinking that the police would look the other way.
As the Daily Graphic noted in its editorial, “The task of attaining and securing a safer and sounder society with the minimum level of threat to lives and property is a collective one, and it behoves all of us to work together to rout these social misfits.”
By Albert K. Salia
IN an article in the May 19, 2009 issue of the Daily Graphic, the writer raised pertinent issues that were confronting the Ghana Police Service. The writer indicated that for the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, to succeed, those issues, some of which bordered on professionalism, ethics, right leadership, motivation and patronage, needed to be addressed.
It was also suggested that a Crime Intelligence Unit be established within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to source intelligence on crime and criminality to enhance proactive policing.
The IGP was also reminded of the fact that he could not afford to disappoint the President and the personnel of the Service who see him as someone to turn around the fortunes of the service.
Almost six months on assumption of office, the IGP has so far proved that he is a man of deeds, whose paramount objective is to provide leadership to the rest of the personnel.
The successes of the Ghana Police Service in fighting violent crime, particularly armed robbery in the last few months, is very heart-warming. Gradually, the lingering fear and the sense of insecurity among the populace as a result of the prevalence of armed robbery and other forms of criminality is giving way.
What is particularly heart-warming to some of us has been the ability of the police to arrest some of the perpetrators of those violent crimes even after the offences had been committed. The police have also been able to identify suspected robbers arrested as belonging to the same gangs involved in past undetected crimes. It should be noted that because past robberies and other crimes went undetected, it gave the perpetrators a false sense of security and courage to continue their activities with impunity. With the police going back to old files to trail criminals, it should send signals that they can run but for how long?
The police have also been able to closely monitor some of those robberies right from their planning stages up to the points of commission, resulting in the Accra Regional Police Command alone successfully busting more than 60 armed robberies by between June and September, this year, while 10 attempted robberies were foiled. More than 100 suspects have also been arrested.
Besides, the police have so far been able to identify a particular brand of cars as the most preferred for the commission of violent crimes. Most often, either the robbers dispossess you of such a vehicle or they use their own, which had been acquired for such purposes.
All these indicate that the security agencies are conducting intelligence-based mission-oriented operations to clamp down on identified criminal gangs.
Maybe, a rundown of some of the successes will suffice. After terrorising residents of Dzorwulu and Abelenkpe, during which a gym instructor, Daniel Owusu Sekyere was killed, the suspected robbers, Kwabena Buadi, Bright Agyei, alias Kudwo, William Dorglo, Francis Bediako, Danlad Ibrahim, among others, were arrested. A bunch of other robbers, whose speciality was to trail persons arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their houses before robbing them have also been arrested.
The operations of another robbery group, including suspects Ebenezer Obese, Napoleon Gomez and Obuor, which had been attacking filling stations since 2008, was brought to an end on August 22, 2009 when they were arrested. The arrest of suspect Kwabena Takyi, who is alleged to be part of the gang that killed Chief Inspector Nyame in Kumasi, was also arrested while on his way to rob a prominent footballer at Kakasunanka.
A number of weapons, including pistols, pump action guns, machetes, knives, clubs and ammunition, cars, motorcycles, talisman, mobile phones and laptops were retrieved from the suspects. Certainly, the police deserve commendation and thumbs up.
One could feel a sense of satisfaction and happiness on the faces of the IGP, Mr Paul Quaye, and his top officials during a press conference to announce the successes chalked up by the police in dealing with violent crime.
It shows that given the requisite logistical support and motivation, the police can deliver to make Ghana more peaceful and safe. That would require more governmental support. The presidential backing to support the police to deliver is certainly working out for all Ghanaians. As Mr Quaye said at the press conference, sometimes it is not always monetary incentives that provides motivation, but a handshake, a certificate and an assurance that your leaders are behind you is encouraging enough for personnel to work even harder. That is true, Mr IGP, I also hope that the Police Administration, apart from dealing with all outstanding promotion issues, the personnel who have so far proved their might in making Ghanaians enjoy the present peace be also promoted, even if it is just a step above their present ranks. At least, that would also cushion their salary levels.
While commending the police for the successes so far, the Police Administration needs to seriously look within its fold to address some lapses, which might negate all the achievements. The lapses include shoddy investigations, which might result in known or self-confessed armed robbers being set free by courts. Although the courts have been accused of acquiting and discharging suspects, a close study of the case would indicate that the investigators did not do their work well.
Furthermore, the leadership of the police at all levels must exercise proper supervision of their subordinates to ensure that at every point of investigation or in pursuit of any operation, the superiors are well-informed and provided the necessary guidance. At least, at the Accra Regional Police Command, a lance corporal was interdicted for granting police enquiry bail to a suspected armed robber, without the knowledge of the superiors. There have also been instances where investigators fail to renew remand warrants of suspects, resulting in the suspects lawyers securing bail for them at the courts.
After all, of what benefit is it to the public and the police, if after risking their lives day and night to deal with miscreants in society, the suspects are unleashed back into society for want of prosecution?
While appreciating whatever support the Government has provided the police, it could still do more in the area of providing more than enough bullet-proof vests for the Ghana Police Service. More durable vehicles are also needed, as well as communication gadgets for the police. Sometimes, the delay in responding to distress calls is because a patrol team could be far off from the area of crime, while those close to the area do not have a vehicle to move immediately.
The Government must be particularly commended for supporting the Police Service with financial incentive, which is being used to motivate citizens, that is, the informant reward system to provide valuable pieces of information and clues towards crime detection. All the agencies and personalities, right from the Presidency, the National Security Council Secretariat and civil society organisations to the ordinary man in the street, deserve commendation. They have played their part well so far in terms of support, strategy, operations, tactics and co-operation.
Members of the public and organisations must also come in one way or the other to support the police in their respective communities. The public and the organisations appreciate the challenges confronting the police in their localities and must rise up to the task of supporting them. However, the donors should not hide behind such assistance for perpetrating crime or abusing the laws of the land, thinking that the police would look the other way.
As the Daily Graphic noted in its editorial, “The task of attaining and securing a safer and sounder society with the minimum level of threat to lives and property is a collective one, and it behoves all of us to work together to rout these social misfits.”
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Cop held over robbery
Page 31: Daily Graphic, November 18, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A POLICE Lance Corporal with the Tema Community One police has been arrested for his alleged involvement in robbery-related activities within the Tema Metropolis and the Volta Region.
The suspect, Delali Osae, who is currently on interdiction and in custody pending prosecution, was arrested as part of an ongoing special in-house cleaning by the Police Administration.
Since the beginning of the year, 38 police personnel have been dismissed while 34 are currently on interdiction for various acts of indiscipline, including misconduct, extortion, bribery and other offences.
Disclosing the arrest and interdiction of Osae to the Daily Graphic, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, said preliminary investigations had revealed that Osae had partnered a robbery gang in a number of robbery escapes.
He said some robbery suspects arrested by the police had identified Osae as one of their accomplices.
He renewed his pledge to weed out all miscreants in the service to ensure that only decent, patriotic and committed personnel remained in the service.
“I will like to assure members of the public that the Police Administration will not shield or provide a cover-up for any wrong-doers. Such characters will be exposed and dealt with according to law,” he said.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A POLICE Lance Corporal with the Tema Community One police has been arrested for his alleged involvement in robbery-related activities within the Tema Metropolis and the Volta Region.
The suspect, Delali Osae, who is currently on interdiction and in custody pending prosecution, was arrested as part of an ongoing special in-house cleaning by the Police Administration.
Since the beginning of the year, 38 police personnel have been dismissed while 34 are currently on interdiction for various acts of indiscipline, including misconduct, extortion, bribery and other offences.
Disclosing the arrest and interdiction of Osae to the Daily Graphic, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, said preliminary investigations had revealed that Osae had partnered a robbery gang in a number of robbery escapes.
He said some robbery suspects arrested by the police had identified Osae as one of their accomplices.
He renewed his pledge to weed out all miscreants in the service to ensure that only decent, patriotic and committed personnel remained in the service.
“I will like to assure members of the public that the Police Administration will not shield or provide a cover-up for any wrong-doers. Such characters will be exposed and dealt with according to law,” he said.
Monday, November 16, 2009
CHRAJ, Police in blame game * Over granting of bail to robbery suspects
Page 24: Daily Graphic, November 17, 2009.
Story: Caroline Boateng & Albert K. Salia
THE criminal records of three suspected armed robbers among the four who were killed in a shoot-out with the police in Kumasi last Friday have stoked the debate over the granting of bail to suspects in cases of violent crime.
While the police are expressing frustration at the development, a Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Richard Quayson, says the granting of bail to crime suspects by the courts is due to the lack of thorough investigations by the police.
Reacting to the frustrations expressed by the police, Mr Quayson said the police were sometimes too quick to arrest on mere suspicion or allegation.
Three of four armed robbery suspects who were killed in last Friday’s shoot-out with the police were identified with their past records as being repeated offenders.
Two were ex-convicts and one was on bail for armed robbery.
That, the police explained, was the result of the courts granting bail to suspected criminals, a development which the police had no control over.
Elaborating further, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Samuel Kwasi Ofori, described as baseless and unwarranted any suggestion that the police had not been thorough in their investigations.
He explained that because the police needed evidence or facts which could stand in court, they undertook painstaking investigations, including getting witnesses to testify in court.
“We do not engage in kangaroo investigations, since we are aware that one will need facts to successfully make a case in court. Anything short of that will not stand in court,” he said.
DSP Ofori reminded critics of the police about the scientific process the police went through in gathering evidence, including the use of the Crime Scene Management Team to gather as much evidence as possible.
He said due to some of the challenges the police encountered in gathering evidence, they had, on numerous occasions, warned members of the public to stay away from crime scenes so that they would not tamper with evidence.
According to him, the police were mindful of the democratic structures in place and would, therefore, not do anything to abuse the rights of any citizen.
DSP Ofori said the granting of bail to suspects was the preserve of the courts and that each time the police did not have evidence immediately available, they pleaded for the suspects to be remanded, but if the courts thought otherwise, “we cannot do anything”.
He said the police did not manufacture evidence.
“If we fall short, we tell the court,” he said, stressing that “even when suspects have been granted bail or acquitted and discharged, we continue with our investigations”.
DSP Ofori said as and when new facts emerged, anyone culpable was arrested and new charges drafted and the suspect charged.
He said it was to forestall any problems that a committee, under the auspices of the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, had been set up to streamline criminal cases before the courts.
He said the committee had been working tirelessly to ensure harmony in the work of the police, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Judiciary.
According to him, as part of reforms initiated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, police lawyers were now heading the Prosecutions Units of the various regional police commands, with the exception of the Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions.
He said the appointment of lawyers to head the prosecution units in the regions and also at the CID Headquarters was to enable the lawyers to lead prosecutions, serve as advisors on criminal, civil and administrative matters, as well as liaise with the Attorney-General’s representatives in the regions.
Mr Quayson, however, argued that the presumption of innocence until a suspect was proven guilty was a universal right and all suspects had a right to that.
However, the inability of the police to thoroughly investigate a matter before arresting meant a lawyer could argue his case before a judge for bail to be granted to the suspect, he noted.
He said when a crime occurred, the police had to thoroughly investigate it and bring out unquestionable evidence in court that would lead to the smooth prosecution of suspects.
For that to be achieved, the government needed to strengthen the police with more people and resources, Mr Quayson added.
He said despite the fact that most Ghanaians condoned the killing of robbers, fundamental human rights demanded that any processes leading to the arrest of suspected criminals were undertaken in a humane manner.
“This is particularly so when the public can sometimes be caught in a crossfire between the police and suspected criminals,” he added.
Story: Caroline Boateng & Albert K. Salia
THE criminal records of three suspected armed robbers among the four who were killed in a shoot-out with the police in Kumasi last Friday have stoked the debate over the granting of bail to suspects in cases of violent crime.
While the police are expressing frustration at the development, a Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Richard Quayson, says the granting of bail to crime suspects by the courts is due to the lack of thorough investigations by the police.
Reacting to the frustrations expressed by the police, Mr Quayson said the police were sometimes too quick to arrest on mere suspicion or allegation.
Three of four armed robbery suspects who were killed in last Friday’s shoot-out with the police were identified with their past records as being repeated offenders.
Two were ex-convicts and one was on bail for armed robbery.
That, the police explained, was the result of the courts granting bail to suspected criminals, a development which the police had no control over.
Elaborating further, the Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Samuel Kwasi Ofori, described as baseless and unwarranted any suggestion that the police had not been thorough in their investigations.
He explained that because the police needed evidence or facts which could stand in court, they undertook painstaking investigations, including getting witnesses to testify in court.
“We do not engage in kangaroo investigations, since we are aware that one will need facts to successfully make a case in court. Anything short of that will not stand in court,” he said.
DSP Ofori reminded critics of the police about the scientific process the police went through in gathering evidence, including the use of the Crime Scene Management Team to gather as much evidence as possible.
He said due to some of the challenges the police encountered in gathering evidence, they had, on numerous occasions, warned members of the public to stay away from crime scenes so that they would not tamper with evidence.
According to him, the police were mindful of the democratic structures in place and would, therefore, not do anything to abuse the rights of any citizen.
DSP Ofori said the granting of bail to suspects was the preserve of the courts and that each time the police did not have evidence immediately available, they pleaded for the suspects to be remanded, but if the courts thought otherwise, “we cannot do anything”.
He said the police did not manufacture evidence.
“If we fall short, we tell the court,” he said, stressing that “even when suspects have been granted bail or acquitted and discharged, we continue with our investigations”.
DSP Ofori said as and when new facts emerged, anyone culpable was arrested and new charges drafted and the suspect charged.
He said it was to forestall any problems that a committee, under the auspices of the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, had been set up to streamline criminal cases before the courts.
He said the committee had been working tirelessly to ensure harmony in the work of the police, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Judiciary.
According to him, as part of reforms initiated by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Quaye, police lawyers were now heading the Prosecutions Units of the various regional police commands, with the exception of the Upper East, Upper West and Volta regions.
He said the appointment of lawyers to head the prosecution units in the regions and also at the CID Headquarters was to enable the lawyers to lead prosecutions, serve as advisors on criminal, civil and administrative matters, as well as liaise with the Attorney-General’s representatives in the regions.
Mr Quayson, however, argued that the presumption of innocence until a suspect was proven guilty was a universal right and all suspects had a right to that.
However, the inability of the police to thoroughly investigate a matter before arresting meant a lawyer could argue his case before a judge for bail to be granted to the suspect, he noted.
He said when a crime occurred, the police had to thoroughly investigate it and bring out unquestionable evidence in court that would lead to the smooth prosecution of suspects.
For that to be achieved, the government needed to strengthen the police with more people and resources, Mr Quayson added.
He said despite the fact that most Ghanaians condoned the killing of robbers, fundamental human rights demanded that any processes leading to the arrest of suspected criminals were undertaken in a humane manner.
“This is particularly so when the public can sometimes be caught in a crossfire between the police and suspected criminals,” he added.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Three LOC officials cited for theft
Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, November 13, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE persons, including the former Chief Executive of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Nations Hockey Championship in Ghana, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, have been cited by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for allegedly attempting to steal GH¢72,141.50 belonging to the state.
The other suspects are Mr Herbert Prebi, a Principal Auditor at the Audit Service, and one Ebenezer Lomotey.
Deferring his comments on the SFO’s findings till later, Mr Danquah said he would prefer to wait till a committee which was auditing the LOC’s accounts finished its work before making any statement on the issue.
According to the SFO, its investigations had revealed that after the completion of the July 2009 hockey tournament, which Ghana hosted, some amount of money was left in the LOC’s account at the Bank of Ghana which Messrs Lomotey and Danquah decided to withdraw for their personal use.
It said Mr Prebi, who was seconded to the Ghana Education Service, was contacted to find a company to assist in withdrawing the money.
The SFO findings indicated that Mr Prebi, on agreeing to assist in withdrawing the money, renewed an enterprise registration of his company, IBERP Enterprise, which, until then, had become dormant.
It said an account was then opened at the Makola branch of the International Commercial Bank (ICB), with number 10260259504, in the name of IBERP Enterprise.
It noted that the plot was to fake supplies of furniture and other office equipment and five cheques were issued to cover a range of items on five vouchers and sent to one Mr Jones Ocloo for verification and processing, after Mr Danquah had authorised the "ghost" transaction.
According to the SFO, the cheques were then lodged into the account of IBERP Enterprise at the ICB.
“Messrs Danquah, Lomotey, Ocloo and Prebi then met in Mr Lomotey's office at the Ministry of Youth and Sports to decide on a formula for sharing the booty,” it noted.
It alleged that at the said meeting, the parties adopted a formula to distribute the net amount of GH¢72,141.50, with Mr Danquah due to take GH¢25,000; Mr Lomotey, GH¢10,000; Mr Jones Ocloo, GH¢10,000; Mr Prebi, GH¢10,000, while GH¢10,000 was set aside for Mr Lomotey, the external auditor.
It said fake VAT returns of GH¢7.141.50 was paid to Mr Prebi, bringing the total sum to GH¢72,141.50.
The investigators indicated that the cheques for withdrawing the money were not issued in bulk to any of the conspirators.
Instead, Mr Prebi allegedly issued between three to four cheques to each of the conspirators and post-dated them to be cashed as and when they were due.
It said when investigations started, GH¢3,200 withdrawals had been made, of which Mr Lomotey took GH¢2,000 and Prebi GH¢1,200.
It said Mr Prebi had also cashed GH¢700 and withdrawn GH¢8,350 and sent to Mr Danquah through Lomotey.
The SFO said the suspects were made to refund the amounts they had withdrawn from the account so far, including the tax component deducted in favour of IBERP Enterprise.
“An amount of GH¢15,928 was retrieved and paid into the LOC 2009 Hockey Account, while the balance stands frozen in the ICB account belonging to IBERP Enterprise,” it said.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, confirmed to the Daily Graphic the submission of such findings to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General but declined further comment on the issue.
“I suggest you wait until we go to court when all the facts and all that you need to know will be put before the court,” he said.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE persons, including the former Chief Executive of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Africa Nations Hockey Championship in Ghana, Mr Magnus Rex Danquah, have been cited by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for allegedly attempting to steal GH¢72,141.50 belonging to the state.
The other suspects are Mr Herbert Prebi, a Principal Auditor at the Audit Service, and one Ebenezer Lomotey.
Deferring his comments on the SFO’s findings till later, Mr Danquah said he would prefer to wait till a committee which was auditing the LOC’s accounts finished its work before making any statement on the issue.
According to the SFO, its investigations had revealed that after the completion of the July 2009 hockey tournament, which Ghana hosted, some amount of money was left in the LOC’s account at the Bank of Ghana which Messrs Lomotey and Danquah decided to withdraw for their personal use.
It said Mr Prebi, who was seconded to the Ghana Education Service, was contacted to find a company to assist in withdrawing the money.
The SFO findings indicated that Mr Prebi, on agreeing to assist in withdrawing the money, renewed an enterprise registration of his company, IBERP Enterprise, which, until then, had become dormant.
It said an account was then opened at the Makola branch of the International Commercial Bank (ICB), with number 10260259504, in the name of IBERP Enterprise.
It noted that the plot was to fake supplies of furniture and other office equipment and five cheques were issued to cover a range of items on five vouchers and sent to one Mr Jones Ocloo for verification and processing, after Mr Danquah had authorised the "ghost" transaction.
According to the SFO, the cheques were then lodged into the account of IBERP Enterprise at the ICB.
“Messrs Danquah, Lomotey, Ocloo and Prebi then met in Mr Lomotey's office at the Ministry of Youth and Sports to decide on a formula for sharing the booty,” it noted.
It alleged that at the said meeting, the parties adopted a formula to distribute the net amount of GH¢72,141.50, with Mr Danquah due to take GH¢25,000; Mr Lomotey, GH¢10,000; Mr Jones Ocloo, GH¢10,000; Mr Prebi, GH¢10,000, while GH¢10,000 was set aside for Mr Lomotey, the external auditor.
It said fake VAT returns of GH¢7.141.50 was paid to Mr Prebi, bringing the total sum to GH¢72,141.50.
The investigators indicated that the cheques for withdrawing the money were not issued in bulk to any of the conspirators.
Instead, Mr Prebi allegedly issued between three to four cheques to each of the conspirators and post-dated them to be cashed as and when they were due.
It said when investigations started, GH¢3,200 withdrawals had been made, of which Mr Lomotey took GH¢2,000 and Prebi GH¢1,200.
It said Mr Prebi had also cashed GH¢700 and withdrawn GH¢8,350 and sent to Mr Danquah through Lomotey.
The SFO said the suspects were made to refund the amounts they had withdrawn from the account so far, including the tax component deducted in favour of IBERP Enterprise.
“An amount of GH¢15,928 was retrieved and paid into the LOC 2009 Hockey Account, while the balance stands frozen in the ICB account belonging to IBERP Enterprise,” it said.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, confirmed to the Daily Graphic the submission of such findings to the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General but declined further comment on the issue.
“I suggest you wait until we go to court when all the facts and all that you need to know will be put before the court,” he said.
SFO indicts Quashigah, two others
Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, November 13, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has indicted Major Courage Quashigah (retd), the Minister of Health under the Kufuor administration, and two other officials of the ministry for impropriety in the award and execution of a GH¢1.2 million preventive maintenance contract.
According to the SFO, although an amount of GH¢646,000 was released as advance mobilisation fee to enable the contractor to undertake the planned periodic maintenance of all 52 health training institutions under the ministry, its investigations to ascertain the scope of work done at all the facilities showed that no work had been done in most of them.
It was also found that besides the fraudulent award of the contract, all the five companies which won the bids were found to be under the control of the same person.
Major Quashigah and the two officials, Mr Peter Azumah, the acting Director of Administration, and the Estate Officer, have been granted bail awaiting prosecution.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, and his two deputies, Messrs Charles Nii Akrong (Operations) and Justice A.Y. Tsar (Research and Monitoring), confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that the SFO had undertaken a number of investigations into other public sector institutions and not the Ministry of Health alone.
They said other public officials had also been indicted in various financial scandals, with the MoH findings being a ‘minor’ one.
Mr Akpadzi was emphatic that those investigations had been ongoing for some time now and had not been initiated recently.
He explained that because the work of the SFO was done on the quiet, it often came into public domain after the office had submitted its report to its supervising ministry, the Ministry of Justice.
Other investigations conducted by the SFO and cited by the Daily Graphic indicated that it had also looked into the issue of unauthorised payments to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay.
The documents explained that following a petition by the acting CEO of the GIPC in September 2009, the SFO investigated the allegations against Mr Ahomka-Lindsay.
It was revealed that in March 2008 the GIPC paid $8,138 as the cost of air tickets for Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s wife and his children during an investment promotion mission to the UAE, India and China, although the wife and the children were not part of the official delegation.
Further investigations revealed that in February 2008 Mrs Ahomka-Lindsay had booked and paid for Economy Class tickets for herself and two of her children in preparation for the trip but the tickets were later upgraded to First Class and re-issued to tally with Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s schedule at his instance and paid for by GIPC.
It was also established by the SFO that in 2008 an amount of US$100,000 was paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay as salary advance pending the formalisation of a consultancy contract with the Presidency.
With regard to the US$100,000 salary advance paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay, investigations revealed that the GIPC board, at its 57th meeting, approved of the amount to him with the intention that the CEO would refund funds received under the Public Services Commission but they were not refunded.
With regard to MASLOC, the SFO said the investigations focused primarily on the loans granted to MDAs and micro financing institutions (MFIs) through irregular means.
It said the aim principally was to salvage the scheme from virtual collapse, in the light of the ineptitude of MASLOC officials and the participating banks in making recoveries from beneficiaries.
It said it was established that disbursement to MDAs made in 2008 exceeded the threshold, without proper approval, and included disbursements of GH¢200,000 to the SEN's programme, GH¢2,445,380 to the NYEP ICT training programme by ROAGRAM Link Ltd, GH¢735,250 to RUMSEC in respect of the Presidential Special Initiatives and GH¢2,000,000 to Messrs Plant Pool Gh Ltd/GPRTU).
The report on it mentioned the former CEO of MASLOC, Mr Lawrence Prempeh, and Mrs Amina Montia, the Head of Administration, as approving those transactions, in violation of established procedures.
It said Mrs Montia was currently on interdiction and put on caution bail.
The SFO has, however, been able to recover GH¢1,408,500, being recoveries of GH¢800,000 from the NYEP ICT programme, GH¢439,000 from the PSIIRUMSEC programme, GH¢100,000 from Plant Pool Ghana Ltd and GH¢69,500 being the full payment, including interest and penalty, to the Asontaba Cottage Industry.
According to the SFO, investigations into the transfer of some amounts into the personal accounts of some officers of MASLOC from a GH¢2 million Japanese grant meant to be disbursed to support flood victims in the three Northern Regions were ongoing.
It said the officers had been interdicted and put on bail as well.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has indicted Major Courage Quashigah (retd), the Minister of Health under the Kufuor administration, and two other officials of the ministry for impropriety in the award and execution of a GH¢1.2 million preventive maintenance contract.
According to the SFO, although an amount of GH¢646,000 was released as advance mobilisation fee to enable the contractor to undertake the planned periodic maintenance of all 52 health training institutions under the ministry, its investigations to ascertain the scope of work done at all the facilities showed that no work had been done in most of them.
It was also found that besides the fraudulent award of the contract, all the five companies which won the bids were found to be under the control of the same person.
Major Quashigah and the two officials, Mr Peter Azumah, the acting Director of Administration, and the Estate Officer, have been granted bail awaiting prosecution.
The Executive Director of the SFO, Mr Biadela Mortey Akpadzi, and his two deputies, Messrs Charles Nii Akrong (Operations) and Justice A.Y. Tsar (Research and Monitoring), confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that the SFO had undertaken a number of investigations into other public sector institutions and not the Ministry of Health alone.
They said other public officials had also been indicted in various financial scandals, with the MoH findings being a ‘minor’ one.
Mr Akpadzi was emphatic that those investigations had been ongoing for some time now and had not been initiated recently.
He explained that because the work of the SFO was done on the quiet, it often came into public domain after the office had submitted its report to its supervising ministry, the Ministry of Justice.
Other investigations conducted by the SFO and cited by the Daily Graphic indicated that it had also looked into the issue of unauthorised payments to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay.
The documents explained that following a petition by the acting CEO of the GIPC in September 2009, the SFO investigated the allegations against Mr Ahomka-Lindsay.
It was revealed that in March 2008 the GIPC paid $8,138 as the cost of air tickets for Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s wife and his children during an investment promotion mission to the UAE, India and China, although the wife and the children were not part of the official delegation.
Further investigations revealed that in February 2008 Mrs Ahomka-Lindsay had booked and paid for Economy Class tickets for herself and two of her children in preparation for the trip but the tickets were later upgraded to First Class and re-issued to tally with Mr Ahomka-Lindsay’s schedule at his instance and paid for by GIPC.
It was also established by the SFO that in 2008 an amount of US$100,000 was paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay as salary advance pending the formalisation of a consultancy contract with the Presidency.
With regard to the US$100,000 salary advance paid to Mr Ahomka-Lindsay, investigations revealed that the GIPC board, at its 57th meeting, approved of the amount to him with the intention that the CEO would refund funds received under the Public Services Commission but they were not refunded.
With regard to MASLOC, the SFO said the investigations focused primarily on the loans granted to MDAs and micro financing institutions (MFIs) through irregular means.
It said the aim principally was to salvage the scheme from virtual collapse, in the light of the ineptitude of MASLOC officials and the participating banks in making recoveries from beneficiaries.
It said it was established that disbursement to MDAs made in 2008 exceeded the threshold, without proper approval, and included disbursements of GH¢200,000 to the SEN's programme, GH¢2,445,380 to the NYEP ICT training programme by ROAGRAM Link Ltd, GH¢735,250 to RUMSEC in respect of the Presidential Special Initiatives and GH¢2,000,000 to Messrs Plant Pool Gh Ltd/GPRTU).
The report on it mentioned the former CEO of MASLOC, Mr Lawrence Prempeh, and Mrs Amina Montia, the Head of Administration, as approving those transactions, in violation of established procedures.
It said Mrs Montia was currently on interdiction and put on caution bail.
The SFO has, however, been able to recover GH¢1,408,500, being recoveries of GH¢800,000 from the NYEP ICT programme, GH¢439,000 from the PSIIRUMSEC programme, GH¢100,000 from Plant Pool Ghana Ltd and GH¢69,500 being the full payment, including interest and penalty, to the Asontaba Cottage Industry.
According to the SFO, investigations into the transfer of some amounts into the personal accounts of some officers of MASLOC from a GH¢2 million Japanese grant meant to be disbursed to support flood victims in the three Northern Regions were ongoing.
It said the officers had been interdicted and put on bail as well.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Police take fight to armed robbers
Pages 24/25: Daily Graphic, November 10, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO suspected members of a bank and bullion van robbery group were killed at the weekend in a crossfire engaged in by both the robbers and the police, who were on an operation that also resulted in the arrest of five other robbers in Accra, Kumasi and Denu.
Two AK47 rifles of the police that earlier had been seized by the suspected armed robbers and a quantity of ammunition were retrieved in the exercise.
Those killed were identified as Dotse Babanawo, alias Thunder or C.K, and another identified only as Dropam, both of whom were said to be the gang leaders.
Those in custody and assisting in investigations include two brothers, Kofi Afoakwa, alias Kofi Rasta alias Not Nice and Yaw Afoakwa alias Dadisen. The others are Isaac Oppong, a driver, Kingsley Lawani or Benin Boy, and Sulley Ibrahim.
Another member of the gang, identified only as Awudu, is reported to have escaped to his native country, Nigeria.
Those arrested have allegedly confessed to taking part in the bank robberies and attacks on bullion vans, which resulted in the death of two policemen, one at the Madina branch of Ecobank and Lashibi-Klagon area three weeks ago, in which the AK47 of the deceased policeman was taken. The other robberies which the robbers allegedly confessed to have been their handiwork were the attacks on Atala Company Ltd, Iron and Paint Company belonging to the Sethi Brothers, Ga Rural Bank at Taifa, St John’s Forex Bureau at Dome and others in Tema.
The most recent attack was on October 27, 2009 in which the gang attacked Antis Company Ltd at Agbogba, where a policeman’s AK 47 rifle was snatched.
Other items retrieved from the five-day exercise, which started from November 2, 2009 to November 7, 2009, included two foreign pistols, two locally manufactured pistols, ammunition, a Ford four-by-four vehicle, a police cap, military camouflage trousers, Air-borne force beret, a military raincoat, a motorbike, a quantity of vehicle number plates, 26 half pieces of cloth, ID cards, a passport, a driver’s licence and other documents.
At a news conference in Accra yesterday to announce the successes of the police in dealing with violent crime, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, noted that 80 per cent of persons involved in robberies that had occurred since the introduction of measures instituted by the Police Administration had been arrested.
He said most of the robberies were closely monitored from their planning stages to the points of commission, thus making it possible for the police to link individual perpetrators to specific crimes, using crime intelligence, crime profiles and other investigative indices.
Mr Quaye, who was flanked by the Director-General of Administration and Welfare, COP Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, and the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, attributed the successes so far to the creation of an Intelligence Unit for gathering crime intelligence, re-introduction of informant reward system and re-activation of traditional policing methods, especially day and night patrols.
He said the effects of the positive achievements by the police was the relative peace and tranquillity which members of the public were enjoying, making them go about their legitimate social, economic and political pursuits without undue fear or hindrance.
Mr Quaye, however, said the police were not being fooled into complacency by those achievements, stressing that “we will continue to develop and strengthen the operational strategies adopted with a view to enhancing their effectiveness in combating the ugly spectre of armed robberies”.
He said the Police Administration was identifying the sociological and criminological root causes of the problem so as to bring on board all partner institutions to adopt a holistic and scientific approach towards solving the disturbing phenomenon of armed robbery.
Giving details on the operation which resulted in the arrests, DCOP Atinga said on November 2, 2009, the police went to a house at Agbogba upon a tip-off.
She said a thorough search in the two-room self-contained apartment resulted in the retrieval of an AK 47 rifle and a magazine with eight rounds of ammunition. The AK 47 rifle was later found to be the one snatched from a policeman at Trede, near Kumasi, in Ashanti Region.
She said four armed plain clothes policemen were subsequently detailed to mount surveillance within the house.
DCOP Atinga said on November 5, 2009, a young man, Leonard Shikabli and a lady, Antoinette Ama Shikabli, went to the house at Agbogba and were arrested.
According to her, Ama told the police upon interrogation that she was asked to tidy up the house, which belonged to her sister’s husband, who had been admitted to a hospital in Kumasi.
She said at about 6p.m. that very day, a team of policemen were detailed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where Kofi Afoakwa was on admission.
She said while at the hospital, Yaw Afoakwa, who is the elder brother of Kofi, was arrested when he went on a visit.
DCOP Atinga said upon interrogation, Kofi and Yaw mentioned Isaac Oppong, a resident of Ashaiman, as a member of the gang, who often led the gang in all robberies within the Tema -Ashaiman areas.
She said a search at the residence of Oppong after his arrest resulted in the retrieval of an AK47 rifle (AZ2901) with three magazines containing 16 ammunitions, one silent pistol with one magazine and other items.
DCOP Atinga said Oppong also led the police to Nungua to arrest Benin Boy with the help of some neighbours while Benin Boy’s partner, Dropam, was not in the house.
According to her, at about 5:15a.m. on November 7, 2009, the police trailed Dropam to the Coco Beach at Nungua, and he opened fire on seeing the Benin Boy in the company of the police. Dropam fell dead when the police returned the fire.
DCOP Atinga said later the police managed to lure Thunder from his hideout at Aflao to Denu, on hearing that the suspect was hiding there.
She said when Thunder realised that he had been lured into a police den, he opened fire on the police with the view to escaping but was hit by a police bullet, resulting in his death.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO suspected members of a bank and bullion van robbery group were killed at the weekend in a crossfire engaged in by both the robbers and the police, who were on an operation that also resulted in the arrest of five other robbers in Accra, Kumasi and Denu.
Two AK47 rifles of the police that earlier had been seized by the suspected armed robbers and a quantity of ammunition were retrieved in the exercise.
Those killed were identified as Dotse Babanawo, alias Thunder or C.K, and another identified only as Dropam, both of whom were said to be the gang leaders.
Those in custody and assisting in investigations include two brothers, Kofi Afoakwa, alias Kofi Rasta alias Not Nice and Yaw Afoakwa alias Dadisen. The others are Isaac Oppong, a driver, Kingsley Lawani or Benin Boy, and Sulley Ibrahim.
Another member of the gang, identified only as Awudu, is reported to have escaped to his native country, Nigeria.
Those arrested have allegedly confessed to taking part in the bank robberies and attacks on bullion vans, which resulted in the death of two policemen, one at the Madina branch of Ecobank and Lashibi-Klagon area three weeks ago, in which the AK47 of the deceased policeman was taken. The other robberies which the robbers allegedly confessed to have been their handiwork were the attacks on Atala Company Ltd, Iron and Paint Company belonging to the Sethi Brothers, Ga Rural Bank at Taifa, St John’s Forex Bureau at Dome and others in Tema.
The most recent attack was on October 27, 2009 in which the gang attacked Antis Company Ltd at Agbogba, where a policeman’s AK 47 rifle was snatched.
Other items retrieved from the five-day exercise, which started from November 2, 2009 to November 7, 2009, included two foreign pistols, two locally manufactured pistols, ammunition, a Ford four-by-four vehicle, a police cap, military camouflage trousers, Air-borne force beret, a military raincoat, a motorbike, a quantity of vehicle number plates, 26 half pieces of cloth, ID cards, a passport, a driver’s licence and other documents.
At a news conference in Accra yesterday to announce the successes of the police in dealing with violent crime, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye, noted that 80 per cent of persons involved in robberies that had occurred since the introduction of measures instituted by the Police Administration had been arrested.
He said most of the robberies were closely monitored from their planning stages to the points of commission, thus making it possible for the police to link individual perpetrators to specific crimes, using crime intelligence, crime profiles and other investigative indices.
Mr Quaye, who was flanked by the Director-General of Administration and Welfare, COP Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, and the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, attributed the successes so far to the creation of an Intelligence Unit for gathering crime intelligence, re-introduction of informant reward system and re-activation of traditional policing methods, especially day and night patrols.
He said the effects of the positive achievements by the police was the relative peace and tranquillity which members of the public were enjoying, making them go about their legitimate social, economic and political pursuits without undue fear or hindrance.
Mr Quaye, however, said the police were not being fooled into complacency by those achievements, stressing that “we will continue to develop and strengthen the operational strategies adopted with a view to enhancing their effectiveness in combating the ugly spectre of armed robberies”.
He said the Police Administration was identifying the sociological and criminological root causes of the problem so as to bring on board all partner institutions to adopt a holistic and scientific approach towards solving the disturbing phenomenon of armed robbery.
Giving details on the operation which resulted in the arrests, DCOP Atinga said on November 2, 2009, the police went to a house at Agbogba upon a tip-off.
She said a thorough search in the two-room self-contained apartment resulted in the retrieval of an AK 47 rifle and a magazine with eight rounds of ammunition. The AK 47 rifle was later found to be the one snatched from a policeman at Trede, near Kumasi, in Ashanti Region.
She said four armed plain clothes policemen were subsequently detailed to mount surveillance within the house.
DCOP Atinga said on November 5, 2009, a young man, Leonard Shikabli and a lady, Antoinette Ama Shikabli, went to the house at Agbogba and were arrested.
According to her, Ama told the police upon interrogation that she was asked to tidy up the house, which belonged to her sister’s husband, who had been admitted to a hospital in Kumasi.
She said at about 6p.m. that very day, a team of policemen were detailed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital where Kofi Afoakwa was on admission.
She said while at the hospital, Yaw Afoakwa, who is the elder brother of Kofi, was arrested when he went on a visit.
DCOP Atinga said upon interrogation, Kofi and Yaw mentioned Isaac Oppong, a resident of Ashaiman, as a member of the gang, who often led the gang in all robberies within the Tema -Ashaiman areas.
She said a search at the residence of Oppong after his arrest resulted in the retrieval of an AK47 rifle (AZ2901) with three magazines containing 16 ammunitions, one silent pistol with one magazine and other items.
DCOP Atinga said Oppong also led the police to Nungua to arrest Benin Boy with the help of some neighbours while Benin Boy’s partner, Dropam, was not in the house.
According to her, at about 5:15a.m. on November 7, 2009, the police trailed Dropam to the Coco Beach at Nungua, and he opened fire on seeing the Benin Boy in the company of the police. Dropam fell dead when the police returned the fire.
DCOP Atinga said later the police managed to lure Thunder from his hideout at Aflao to Denu, on hearing that the suspect was hiding there.
She said when Thunder realised that he had been lured into a police den, he opened fire on the police with the view to escaping but was hit by a police bullet, resulting in his death.
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