Corporal Bernard Bortey of the Ghana Armed Forces, together with six alleged civilian accomplices, has been remanded by the Accra Circuit Court for his role in an armed robbery and kidnapping case involving a fuel tanker.
The accused persons were first arraigned on August 11, 2025, before His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, where they all pleaded not guilty to four counts — conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, kidnapping, and abetment of robbery.
During the latest court proceedings, held yesterday, Corporal Bortey (A1) applied for bail. The court has fixed Wednesday August 27, for the hearing of his bail application.
Until then, the soldier will remain in Military Police custody, while the six other accused persons are being held by the Ghana Police Service.
Prosecutors opposed bail applications from defence lawyers, citing the gravity of the offences and the fact that investigations are still ongoing.
The court therefore extended the remand to allow investigators more time to build their case.
The six civilians standing trial alongside the soldier are:
Mark Abito (A2), 34, a fuel tanker driver; Ganiu Abdulai (A3), 31, driver; Atiiga Banabas (A4), 26, unemployed; Awine Ibrahim (A5), 25, tanker driver’s mate; Muniru Ayebo (A6), 19, tanker driver’s mate and Shaibu Adams (A7), 27, tanker driver’s mate.
Background of case
According to police prosecutors led by ASP Issah Achibari, who held brief for ASP Emmanuel Heligah, the robbery occurred on August 6, 2025, at Pampaso Number 1 in the Eastern Region.
Cpl. Bortey, stationed at the Ghana Armed Forces Teaching and Doctrine College, is alleged to have conspired with at least four other individuals, some still at large to trail a fuel tanker transporting diesel from Tema.
The tanker, belonging to Petroland Ltd., was intercepted at gunpoint. The driver, Jerry Kawuo, and his mate, Desmond Owusu Junior, were abducted and forced into a green pickup truck (registration number GX 2881-22).
The stolen tanker, a DAF diesel truck with registration number GT-2493-20, was carrying 54,000 litres of diesel valued at GH¢769,500.00.
It was allegedly driven to the Pacific Fuel Station at Bunso Junction, where the suspects attempted to siphon the fuel into another tanker (GN 804-13) using a pumping machine.
However, a swift police intervention led to their arrest.
Cpl. Bortey was arrested around 12:30 a.m. on August 7, 2025, at a police checkpoint at Ablekuma Borkorborkor.
He was dressed in his military uniform, and the two kidnapped victims were still handcuffed in the back of the pickup. They managed to alert officers, leading to Cpl Bortey’s arrest.
Subsequent investigations led to the apprehension of the six other accused individuals at Bunso Junction.
The court also granted a prosecution request to release the impounded fuel tanker and its contents to Petroland Ltd., the lawful owner, citing safety concerns.
Mr. Appiah Kubi appeared in court on behalf of the company. The vehicle and fuel had been held at a police station, prompting concerns about the risk of theft or tampering.
The prosecution revealed that the operation was carefully planned, with the suspects dividing into two teams—one to track the tanker’s movement from Tema, and another, allegedly led by Cpl. Bortey, to carry out the hijacking.
The prosecution further informed the court that they require more time to complete their disclosure before trial proceedings begin.
The case has been adjourned to August 27, 2025, while police continue their efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects: Raphael Amartey, a man identified only as Arhin and two others currently on the run.
