What appeared to be another routine mobile money transaction in Kumasi quickly turned into a terrifying armed robbery experience for a young MoMo vendor and her one-year-old baby.
But in an unexpected twist, the suspect, a serving police inspector, allegedly made one costly mistake that eventually exposed him: he forgot his mobile phone at one of the crime scenes.
A Police Inspector identified as Bright Appiah Danquah, stationed at Abuakwa, has been arrested for allegedly robbing more than eight mobile money vendors across Kumasi.
Police Inspector Poses As Customer Before Alleged Robbery
One of the victims, Victoria Arkoh, says the officer attacked her at her MoMo shop at Santasi-Adiembra on 4 May and made away with thousands of cedis at gunpoint.
Speaking to Crime Check, Mrs Arkoh recounted the frightening ordeal, saying the suspect initially posed as a customer who wanted to conduct a transaction.
According to her, the officer requested her phone number so someone could transfer money to him. She, however, declined and advised him to ask the sender to authorise a cash-out instead.
Mrs Arkoh said the man arrived on a motorbike and initially stood behind her shop near the entrance.
“I asked him to stand in front of the counter so the CCTV could capture him. As I went inside to sit at the counter, he went to the back door, pointed a gun at me, and demanded all my money. I urinated on myself, and it drained onto my one-year-old baby,” she narrated.
MoMo Vendor Robbed Of GH₵38,600
The suspect allegedly fled with GH₵38,600 in cash, her ATM card, Ghana Card, wedding ring, and mobile phones.
Mrs Arkoh said she screamed for help after the robbery, but bystanders were too frightened to pursue the armed suspect because he was carrying a gun and riding a motorbike.
The breakthrough in the case came the following day when she visited the Sokoban Police Station to file a formal complaint.
There, she was informed that another mobile money vendor had already reported a similar robbery involving the same suspect.
Forgotten Phone Leads To Police Inspector’s Arrest
In that incident, Inspector Bright allegedly forgot his phone at the victim’s shop while escaping after the robbery.
Explaining how it happened, Mrs Arkoh said the suspect had instructed the vendor to take him inside the shop to collect the money.
“When they were going inside, the victim ran off. The officer left his gun and phone on the counter. After taking the money, he grabbed his gun but forgot his phone. The phone led to his arrest,” she said.
Police investigators reportedly examined the device and found details confirming that the suspect was a police officer.
Ironically, Mrs Arkoh claimed the suspect had earlier gone to the Adiebeba Police Station to report that his phone had been stolen and even requested police assistance to track it.
Eight Victims And Four Accomplices Identified
The investigation later linked him to several other robbery complaints involving mobile money vendors in Kumasi.
According to Mrs Arkoh, at least eight victims have so far identified Inspector Bright as the man behind the attacks.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Central Police Station, where police conducted an identification parade.
Mrs Arkoh further disclosed that four alleged accomplices, made up of two police officers and two civilians, have also been arrested in connection with the robberies.
All suspects have reportedly been remanded into custody as investigations continue.
