Insp. Ashilevi to be buried Saturday

Inspector Emmanuel Ashilevi, the police officer who was killed during the cell break at the Kwabenya Police Station, will be buried at the Achimota Cemetery tomorrow, Saturday, March 3, 2018.

The funeral rites of the murdered police officer will also take place on the same day at the Atomic Hospital Park near the Kwabenya District Police Command, while the thanksgiving service will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018 at the Apostolic Church, Pokuase, near Accra.

On January 21, 2018, seven inmates of the Kwabenya Police Station escaped from custody through a cell break carried out by six armed men.

Inspector Ashilevi, who was on duty, was shot during the escape.

Appeal

In a statement signed by the Director General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) David Eklu, it was mentioned that three suspects, Chibuzor Akuba, who was on police remand for robbery, Dickson Ofori, arrested for robbery, and Edem Rockson, on remand for stealing, were still at large.

It, therefore, urged the public to assist the police to arrest those on the run.

“Any person with such information may call the Police on 191 (all network) or 1855 (MTN and Vodafone),’’ the statement said.

Court case

The Accra Circuit Court, on February 16, 2018, jailed two of the escapees - Prince Osei and Atta Kwadwo, two and half month each.

That was after they both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to escape from lawful custody and escaping from lawful custody.

One of the suspected escapees, Kofi Darko, who is also standing trial, has, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Nine other individuals alleged to have played various roles in aiding the inmates escape have also been arraigned on a charge of abetment to escape from lawful custody.

On February 27, 2018, the court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, rejected a bail application by lawyers for five of them.

Details of cell break

The prosecutor in the case, Superintendent of Police Kwaku Bempah, informed the court that before the operation, two members of the gang had surveyed the police station by intentionally visiting the place to lodge a complaint.

They complained that someone had borrowed their money and refused to pay for which a policeman told them to institute a civil action at the court.

“At that moment, the two signalled the rest who had laid ambush to launch an attack on the charge office.

They shot Inspector Ashilevi, who was on duty.”

“They took the keys to the cells and released seven of the inmates, namely Prince Osei, Atta Kwadwo, Chibuzor Akwubu, Emmanuel Kotey, Rockson Edem Dzigbede and Dickson Ofori,’’ he said.