An alleged National Security Operative, Kelvin Prince Boakye, alias Don King, 48, has been accused of robbing a gold trading firm, Waahid Gold Company Limited, off five kilogrammes of gold worth GHI¢2,731,138.84.
Kelvin, together with his accomplices, allegedly armed with AK47 assault rifle, attacked the Waahid Gold Company Limited at a refinery, where its officers had gone to test the gold sold to it by the accused and his collaborators.
Boakye aka Don King has currently been charged before an Accra Circuit Court and remanded into lawful custody to reappear on December 13, 2022.
The accused has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime, to wit robbery, and possession of a firearm and ammunition without authority.
The court, presided over by Evelyn Asamoah, was informed by the prosecuting officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong, last week Thursday, that Boakye claims he is a National Security Operative and resides at Sowutuom.
According to him, on Saturday, November 5, 2022, the complainant (name withheld) and others who are witnesses in the case went to buy 5kg of gold from the accomplices of the accused at the cost of GHI¢2,731,138.84.
ASP Oppong narrated that both parties took the gold to the SSL Refinery at the Kotoka International Airport Terminal 2 for testing, after which the precious mineral was confirmed to be pure gold.
The prosecuting officer added that the accomplices of the accused allegedly lured the complainant to escort them to Accra Mall with the money.
He said while the complainant was still at the Accra Mall, she phoned the Managing Director of the company, Mohammed Ko Chan Tha, and one of their workers, Emmanuel Amuzu, who at the time were still at the refinery, that he had handed over the money to the accomplices of the accused.
Interestingly, while this was ongoing, Boakye, together with others armed with AK 47 assault rifle suddenly attacked the refinery.
The prosecutor explained that Boakye and two others (being hunted for) took Mr. Tha who is based in Dubai, Mr. Amuzu and other witnesses in the case hostage, and beat them up.
Boakye and his men allegedly robbed Mr. Amuzu and the Managing Director off the 5kg of gold. “After the act, the accused person and his accomplices went into hiding. On November 18, 2022, the accused was arrested from his hideout at Awoshie,” he added.
The court was informed that a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) installed in the refinery captured the accused and his other accomplices in the act.
ASP Oppong further stated that when a search was conducted on the accused, one unregistered Bruni pistol loaded with one round of 9mm ammunition and a gota handset were retrieved from him
“A further search [conducted] in his room at his Sowutuom residence led to the retrieval of two rounds of 9mm ammunition, two bullet proof vests, and one ballistic helmet, two stunt guns and one can of pepper spray,” he added.
He told the court that the accused mentioned the names of some five individuals as his accomplices.
However, efforts are underway to apprehend the said accomplices.
