The Brong-Ahafo Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Kwaku Ayensu Opare-Addo, has threatened that his outfit will boycott the Fiapre Circuit Court following its decision to grant bail to two alleged armed robbers.

He warned that the release of the robbers on bail would threaten the safety of informants and jeopardise investigations into various robbery cases against them.

"They are dangerous elements in society who should not be let loose," he said.

The court at Fiapre, near Sunyani, presided over by Mr. Owusu Gyamfi, on Wednesday granted the two, Adam Sherrif, also known as Alhaji, and Isaac Aboagyei a GH¢ 40,000 (¢400 million) bail with three sureties each, when they appeared before it charged with possessing firearms without authority and preparation to commit crime.

However, ACP Opare-Addo disagreed with the bail bond and expressed the belief that the judge was aware of the danger that the accused persons posed to society.

He explained that the accused were known criminals who had been on the wanted list of the police until they were arrested.
"Alhaji is a known armed robber and ev¬erybody in Sunyani knows him," he said.

Mr Opare-Addo told the Times that even though he is a lawyer and respects decisions of the law courts, he will protest this particular bail.

He said police pros¬ecutors will no longer send cases to that court because of the judge's behaviour in respect of the case.

However, a source at the court whom the Times contacted in the absence of the judge said that there was nothing wrong with grant¬ing the accused persons bail.

The source explained that although the charge of possession of firearms without authority was a first degree felony, bail can be granted.

Sherrif and Aboagyei were arrested by the police two months ago at Yawhima, near Chiraa.

At the time of their arrest, the police described Sheriff as the "deadly kingpin," of the numerous robbery cases in the region.

According to the police the two were arrested after a tip-off that they were on their way to Wenchi to embark on a major robbery operation.

The police allegedly found in their possession one pump action gun with five rounds of ammunition, one shotgun with five rounds of ammunition and two pistols, also with five rounds of ammunition.

Source: Ghanaian Times