Accra: An Accra High Court (Criminal Court 5) has remanded into lawful custody 10 persons allegedly involved in rural bank robberies across the country. These individuals made their second appearance before the court and are scheduled to reappear on October 22.

According to Ghana News Agency, the accused are identified as Kwesi Agyei, also known as Cobra, Ibrahim Alhassan, Samuel Appiah aka Kwesi Mugu, Francis Acquah aka Preman, and David Obuobi aka Wasty. The remaining individuals are Martin Akansina aka One Billion, Nana Yaw Frimpong aka Mystical, Kojo Atingawo aka Borga, Samuel Akwasi Gyan, and Stephen Sey. Two other accomplices, Kwabena Owusu-Ansah and Kwame Sekyere, remain at large.

The accused face 14 counts of conspiracy to commit crime, namely robbery, robbery, and causing unlawful damage. The court has yet to take their pleas. Investigations revealed that this alleged robbery gang was formed in 2024, with the primary objective of committing bank robberies nationwide. The group is alleged to have executed 13 robberies in the Ashanti, Western, Central, Eastern, and Ahafo regions, resulting in the death of a police officer. Authorities have retrieved several weapons and ammunitions since the arrests.

David Beecham, Assistant State Attorney, requested a two-week remand for further investigations, opposing bail due to the severity of the charges and the use of offensive weapons. The accused were represented by Mr. Andy Vortia and Dr. Francis Adjei Osei, who argued against the remand, citing that the accused should be allowed to plead and emphasizing their presumption of innocence.

The trial judge, considering the charges, expressed doubts about the accused appearing for trial and subsequently remanded them into lawful custody until their next court appearance on October 22.