Police labourer remanded 2 weeks for stealing weapon

Source: Nana Anfreh DAMANATA
The Wenchi Magistrate Court is presided over his Worship Issa Abdul Wahab. The curt has remanded 28
year Joseph Adinkra for two weeks into Police custody. Adinkra’s charge is stealing an AK-47 rifle a
service rifle with number AE 405323.
Joseph Adinkra is a civilian employee for the Ghana Police Service. He is a cleaner at the Wenchi police
station. He lives at Akrobi, a suburb of Wenchi in the Bono Region.
The Prosecutor is Detective Inspector John Agyare. He told the court that the complainant in the case is
Chief Inspector Seth Agyei. He is the station Officer of Wenchi Police station. The accused Joseph
Adinkra is a civilian employee for the Ghana Police Service.
The incident happened on 3rd January, 2025 at about 5:20 am. He told the court that a police officer who
used an AK-47, a service rifle with number AE 405323 for night patrol duties closed from work. He
returned the said rifle to the charge office. The police officers on duty at the charge office received the
said weapon. They made entries to that effect.
The said weapon was kept under the counter. It was kept together with other weapons. The accused
person also came to the charge office to start his morning cleaning duties. At about the same time, the
counter NCO as well as the Station Orderly briefly stepped out of the charge office. This was to enable
the accused to do a thorough cleaning at the charge office.
Accused Joseph Adinkra then allegedly stole the service rifle together with one SMG magazine loaded
with 30 rounds of ammunition. The equipment is valued fifty two thousand eight hundred and thirty four
Ghana cedis, ninety nine pesewas (52,834.99).
He concealed the weapon in his clothes. He briefly came out of the charge office. He passed the officers
on duty at the veranda. They did not suspect any foul play.
The accused then went to the side of the charge office. He found an old brownish Ecola bag inside a
tricycle's bucket. He hid the weapon in the bag. He went back to the charge office to complete his work.
At about 5:40 am station's Armorer came to the charge office to place all returned rifles inside the
Amoury. However, when he cross-checked he detected that the aforementioned rifle and one SMG
magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition were missing.
The complainant was informed about the development. He made official complaint at the Police station.
The police conducted investigation. They arrested and interrogated the accused. He denied flatly that he
knew anything about the missing weapon. However he later admitted the offence and led investigators to
where he hid the weapon. The same was retrieved together with the SMG magazine loaded with 30
rounds of ammunition.
In his cautioned statement, Joseph Adinkra claimed that a friend of his wanted such weapon for his
galamsey activities. He promised to pay him seven thousand Ghana cedis ( GH¢ 7,000.00) if he is able to
get one for him.
After investigation the accused was charged with the offence. He was brought before this Honourable
Court for trial.
Investigations are still underway to figure out as to whom accused intended to sell the weapon.
The case was adjourned to Tuesday January 21, 2025.