The prosecutor in the teenage gold theft case has told the court that the police suspect a larger criminal syndicate with several possible accomplices involved in the crime.
Chief Inspector Gilbert Abagna Anyongo, the prosecutor, therefore, appealed for more time to conduct further investigations into the case.
He also stated that the police needed additional time to verify the true ages of the suspects.
The Assin Fosu District Court, where the two appeared today, remanded them in juvenile cells to reappear on March 5, 2025.
Alleged gold theft
The two teenagers were arrested for allegedly stealing gold and GH¢41,000 from a gold shop at Twifo Praso in the Twifo Ati Morkwa District of the Central Region.
The suspects, who both claim to be 17 years old, were remanded into juvenile cells by the court, presided over by His Worship Abdul Majid Iliasu.
Chief Inspector Anyongo informed the court that the police were also investigating the true ages of the suspects, as there are concerns that they may be older than they claim.
The girl had initially told police she was 15 years old but later revised her age to 17 years, while police suspect the boy may be older.
He further revealed that preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects had been planning the theft for some time, monitoring the gold shop’s activities before executing the crime.
Arrest and ongoing investigations
The two were arrested on Sunday, February 16, 2024, by the Twifo Praso District Police Command, led by District Commander Superintendent Charles Addae Boateng.
The girl was arrested at her hideout in Egyaa near Anomabo, in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, while her boyfriend was apprehended at a separate location following a tip-off.
Reports indicate that CCTV footage captured the girl stealing from the gold shop before allegedly distributing the stolen money among her accomplices, including her boyfriend.
The police have urged anyone with information about the theft or the suspects to come forward and assist with investigations as efforts continue to track down the remaining accomplices.
