Five suspects are in the grips of the Ashanti Police for their alleged role in the murder of Corporal Frank Essel of the Special Weapon and Tactics Unit in Kumasi.

Corporal Essel was on Thursday, May 19, 2016, shot and killed by masked armed men in his personal vehicle at the premises of the ‘Open Space Hotel’ at Denkyemuoso in Kumasi, during a robbery spree by the armed assailants.

The arrested suspects are Kofi Gyimah, Emmanuel Ampabeng, Kofi Nti, Kwadwo Owusu and Richard Kwabena Kyere, believed to be part of a gang of hardened criminals who after robbing their victims kill them as well.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Charles Domanban, the Asokwa Divisional Police, told the press that the five were arrested during a police swoop.

He said Ampabeng was the first to be arrested on June 23, 2016 at Kromoasi, and he led a team of detectives to arrest the other suspects at their respective hideouts.

ACP Domanban said interrogations are ongoing to arrest other accomplices linked to the crime.