The Kumasi police have arrested a 25-year-old man for parading himself as a military person on the outskirts of Anwia Nkwanta on the Manso Nkwanka Highway, a spot noted for highway robbery in the Ashanti Region.
Kwame Asare, who was in full military uniform when he was arrested by the police patrol team, claimed the uniform was given to him by Lance Corporal Osei Assibey of the Fourth Battalion Infantry.
The said Lance Corporal Assibey was in a waiting taxi in the same area where Asare was arrested but bolted upon the arrest of Asare.
Briefing the media in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nathan Kofi Boakye, said Asare was spotted in the dark on Thursday around 8:30 pm flashing a torch on the highway.
He said the police patrol team became suspicious, especially about the demeanour of the suspect, when he became jittery on seeing the police.
When queried about his military identity, Asare could not provide any answer.
Asare claimed that he was given the full military camouflage uniform, comprising a long sleeve shirt, a pair of trousers, a cap and a pair of boots by a friend who is a military person with the Fourth Battalion.
Mr Boakye expressed worry about the increasing rate at which men in uniform were tarnishing the reputation of the security agencies with their involvement in crimes and gave an assurance that the security agencies would deal ruthlessly with such bad nuts.
Regarding the involvement of the military person, Mr Boakye said his outfit was liaising with the military authorities to identify the Lance Corporal and ascertain the veracity of the claim by the culprit.
The suspect is in police custody assisting in investigation.
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