Police have arrested an ex-convict in connection with a violent robbery and carjacking incident reported earlier this year involving a taxi driver.
The suspect, Vincent Gbetorglo, was arrested on July 30, 2025, at the Accra Mall following intelligence gathered by investigators. A search during his arrest led to the recovery of four mobile phones—one of which was confirmed to belong to Vic Martin Obeng, a taxi driver who was attacked and robbed on New Year’s Day.
The arrest follows a complaint filed by Obeng on January 6, 2025, at the CID Headquarters. He reported that on January 1 around 9:00 p.m., while working with an ash-and-yellow Toyota Corolla taxi (registration number GM 296-16), he was violently attacked by three passengers at Madina Zongo Junction.
According to Obeng, the young men hired him to drive them to Haatso. But upon reaching a section of the road near the Haatso ICGC Church, the passengers turned violent. “They attacked me inside the vehicle, covered my face with my own shirt, and tied me up,” he recounted.
A police statement added that the suspects forced the victim to lie on the floor of the back seat, took control of the vehicle, and stole his daily sales, mobile phone, and GHC 13,000 in mobile money before abandoning him near Westland.
Following the report, investigators visited the crime scene and launched a manhunt with support from informants. Gbetorglo was eventually apprehended with the stolen mobile phone in his possession.
During interrogation, the suspect claimed he had bought the phones at Kwame Nkrumah Circle but was unable to identify or lead police to the alleged seller. Further checks by the police revealed that Gbetorglo is an ex-convict who was sentenced in 2011 by Cocoa Affairs Court 1 to a 40-year prison term. He was, however, released in 2023 after a successful appeal.
Police suspect the incident is part of a wider pattern involving a criminal syndicate that targets taxi drivers through violent attacks. Intelligence gathered so far indicates that the methods used—including abduction, robbery, and attempted killings—mirror tactics seen in similar recent cases and may involve other ex-convicts.
Efforts are currently underway to arrest the remaining accomplices and recover the stolen vehicle.
