The Kibi Magistrate Court has granted bail to five men accused of impersonating officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) at Potrease near Kyebi on January 2, 2026.
The suspects, Paul Agbenu, Moses Dablam, Christopher Amakor, Casmir Nunekpeku, and Wisdom Miwonuko, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion, and falsely pretending to be public officers.
The accused were arrested by residents of Potrease after allegedly extorting money from miners while dressed in security uniforms and claiming to be NAIMOS operatives from Accra.
They were handed over to the Eastern South Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Kibi for further investigations.
Her Worship Juliet Osei-Duedo, presiding over the court, admitted the suspects to bail with two sureties each.
The police had warned the public that impersonating security officers is a criminal offence and assured residents that anyone caught doing so will be arrested and prosecuted.
The case has been adjourned to 9th February 2026 for further hearing. The suspects are expected to report to the police station regularly as part of their bail conditions.
