Ofankor murder: Suspect's pumped guns were licensed over 12 years ago - Police
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The Accra Regional Police command has clarified issues surrounding the ownership of some two pump guns by the suspect involved in the murder of his tenant at Ofankor.
The 38-year-old landlord, Victor Stephen Kankan, who shot his tenant, told the police, during interrogations, that the weapons used for the shooting were possessed with the help of a policeman at the Criminal Investigations Department at the Mamprobi Police station.
“I got the guns from a policeman called Mr. Kalani, he is the Head of CID department here in Accra, he gave me the weapons at Mamprobi police station, due to the fact that people came to rob our house in 2008, and we asked for protection,” he said during an interrogation.
Reacting to this in an interview with GhanaWeb, Head of Public Relations of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Effia Tenge explained, that the guns in question were not given to the suspect for the purposes of the crime.
Per the facts she indicated, the suspect applied, was vetted and went through the requisite processes to acquire the licensed guns from the Mamprobi police station in 2007, contrary to suggestions that he was helped by the police officer to acquire the gun.
"The weapon that was used were licensed weapons that were issued to the guy and the mother far back in 2007. The name the man is mentioning is the police officer at that time, far back in 2007, so it doesnt mean that the police officer has clandestinely given him the weapon to commit the act." She said.
Adding,
"Through our investigations, we got to know that the weapon was issued to them, they have gone through the due process and they were vetted and the weapons were given to them by an armed and ammunition clerk at that time. One was in the name of the mother and the other in his name because they were in different locations and every year, they renewed it."
DSP Effia Tenge however condemned the open interrogation of the suspect.
"It's not supposed to be so. It's supposed to he done with a police officer."
Responding to questions about the police' knowledge about the involved officer, she insisted it has not yet been confirmed if the person involved was indeed a police officer.
"I dont have information on that yet but no, it must not be so. No investigation should be done in the open." She said.
Meanwhile, the Abeka District Court on Tuesday remanded into police custody, the suspect, for allegedly shooting and killing his tenant, Spark Benjamine, at Ofankor over rent.
Kankam, also known as Nii Kojo Konim Obio-Cyhoera, will undergo a test for COVID-19 before going into lawful custody.
Provisionally charged with murder, the court, presided over by Ms Adwoa Achaama Ofosu, preserved his plea. Kankam is expected to reappear on June 8.
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