The driver and the friend of a minister inculcate suspects in a state vehicle "missing"

General News on Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-07-17

Police in the Savannah area arrested two people in connection with the missing Toyota Hilux pickup truck belonging to the newly created Savannah Regional Coordination Council.

The two people, Alhaji Suleimana Illiasu, a plaintiff in the case but now suspect, and Opoku Kwadjo Evans, a driver, were arrested by the police because their statements are "inconsistent", police said.

The statements, made by both to the police, "do not add up and are not very clear," the Northern Region police chief of public relations, who is also responsible for Savannah, the police superintendent. Deputy (DSP), Mohammed Yusif Tanko told Graphic Online on Wednesday.

He added that the two suspects had been arrested on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

What happened

One of the new vehicles that President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo Dankwa recently handed over to the new Savannah region was reportedly stolen by armed robbers last week.

The police therefore opened an investigation to find the missing 4×4 pickup belonging to the Savannah Regional Coordination Council (SRCC).

The plaintiff, Alhaji Suleimana Illiasu, told the police that armed robbers had seized him at gunpoint.

According to Alhaji Suleimana Illiasu, the vehicle was parked at his home in Tamale.

Alhaji Illiasu is a friend of the Savannah regional minister, Mr. Salifu Adam Braimah, and the minister would have through the driver, Opoku Kwadjo Evans, parked the vehicle at Alhaji Illiasu [Minister] traveled out of town for a meeting.

According to Alhaji Illiasu in his initial complaint to the police, the traveling minister left the vehicle in his custody, which he parked at his home.

DSP Tanko said that he [Alhaji Illiasu] was at home around 9 am on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, when armed robbers attacked him under the threat of a gun and asked him for the vehicle keys.

He stated that he had handed the keys to the thieves. They caught him in the vehicle and left about twenty kilometers from his home, dropped him and fled with the vehicle.

When Graphic Online contacted the Savannah Regional Minister, Mr. Salifu Adam Braimah, he said last week that the case concerned the police and declined to comment, unless the police did not investigate.

New twist

On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, DSP Tanko told Graphic Online that the two people had been arrested as suspects because their statements to the police "do not match".

more soon…