Cop, Four Others Arrested For Breaking Into Warehouse

A policeman, Corporal Kyei Mensah, of the Tema Community Two Police Station and four others have been arrested for allegedly breaking into a a warehouse in Tema. The police have mounted a search for a sixth suspect, identified as Corporal Hope Katsekpor, also of the same police station, who is on the run. The four other suspects being held are Jahlu Yahaya, 25; Ibrahim Bawa, 20; Godwin Atanu and Stephen Akwasi Djan, both 25. The Founder of the Breakthrough Gate Church at Ashaiman-Lebanon, Prophet Elijah Atta Twum-Barima, 43, who had attempted to bribe the police with GH�7,000 for the release of two drivers, who are part of the gang of suspected thieves, is also being held by the police to assist in investigations. The Tema Regional Police Commander, DCOP Beatrice Zakpaa Vib-Sanziri, told newsmen in Tema that the suspects, who stormed the warehouse of Samphods Ventures, near Aluworks in Tema, about 3 a.m. broke into the warehouse after they had attacked and assaulted the security man, Henry Nortey. The suspects, she said, packed about 2,000 bags of imported rice into two Man-Diesel trucks, with registration numbers GT 5985 R and VR 6477 H, driven by Yahaya and Ibrahim, respectively, while the two policemen allegedly provided security for them. According to DCOP Vib-Sanziri, the suspects were in the process of carting their booty away when they were accosted by a police patrol team which went to the area following information from the Police Information Unit. "The two policemen (Kyei and Katsekpor) who were providing security for the suspects, however, took to their heels, leaving behind a Nissan Patrol vehicle, with registration number GT 8890 G, driven by Katsekpor," the Commander said. Bags of rice The regional commander said the police had impounded the two trucks in which the bags of rice were packed, while investigations continued. She said Prophet Twum-Barima on hearing the arrest of the suspects, stormed the Regional Police Command and approached the night duty officer with GH�7,000 for the release of the two drivers. The officer feigned interest in the deal and during negotiations arrested the prophet and handed him over to the command to assist in investigations. Commendation DCOP Vib-Sanziri, who commended the patrol team, also singled out the night duty officer for the act of courage. She cautioned that the command would not hesitate to name and shame men and women in uniform who engaged in any form of criminality. "We will ensure they face the full rigours of the law if they are caught perpetrating any form of criminality," DCOP Sanziri said.