Man remanded over police vehicle theft

An Accra Circuit Court has remanded into police custody Eric Afful for allegedly stealing a vehicle belonging to the Ghana Police Service.

Afful, a driver, is said to have stolen the Toyota Hilux Pick-up, valued at GHC300,000, on August 19, 2025, at Ashalley Botwe in Accra.

He was assisted by one Acquah, currently at large.

The accused person was arrested when a Police Force Driving Logbook was found in the vehicle. 

Afful and Acquah have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime and stealing.

Afful is facing an additional charge of stealing.

He informed the court, presided over by Basilia Adjei Tawiah, that his counsel would be in court at the next court sitting.

The court did not take his plea and adjourned the matter to September 4. 2025.

The Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Amanie Abel, told the court that the complainant was the Commander of National Patrol Unit of the Police Headquarters, Accra.

The first accused, Eric Afful, resided at Dansoman while his accomplice, Acquah, is currently at large. 

On August 19, 2025, the complainant returned from work at about 7:00 pm and parked his Police official service vehicle, with registration number WR 1805-Z, in front of his residence at Ashaley Botwe and retired to bed. 

Prosecution said the following morning, at about 0700 hours, the complainant woke up and detected that the service vehicle had been moved to an unknown destination. 

He lodged a complaint of stealing at Lakeside Estates Police Station.

At about 1500 hours the same day, the Police patrol team arrested Afful and sent him to the Auto Theft Unit.

A search conducted on the vehicle revealed a police force driving logbook and the complainant’s hospital ID card. 

A further search on the accused revealed a bunch of Toyota ignition keys.

The accused initially told the arresting team that he was sent by a friend, who owned the vehicle, to pick a lady. 

When asked to call the said friend, he could not, instead he confirmed stealing the vehicle with Acquah from the complainant’s residence. 

He said Acquah had taken the lead to Kasoa to meet with a buyer who was coming from the Western Region.

When the ignition keys were tried, three of them started the vehicle.

The case is still under investigation.

Source: GNA