A daring daylight robbery of a downtown bank, planned by five gunmen for Monday, was prevented by police who now hold the confessed ringleader and expect to arrest at least four accomplices.

Police Chief W.A. Gabrielson said today that a discharged soldier, in custody as a result of Patrolman Roberts Arnott’s getting information on the alleged conspiracy, says he planned the robbery.

The arrested man told detectives he was to stage the holdup with a .38 revolver, just before the bank’s 2 p.m. closing time.

Three other armed men would be covering other persons in the bank, and a fourth would be outside in a getaway car, Detective Capt. Eugene Kennedy said.

Four war workers believed to be accomplices will be picked up late today or Wednesday, Chief Gabrielson said.

The 27-year-old arrested man, after being discharged from the Army last summer, came to Honolulu on a war contract for a construction firm as a diesel operator.

However, when told he must work instead as a mechanic’s helper, he refused to do so and has never worked here since arriving, according to his story as told by police.

“He has been bumming around, sleeping in gutters and getting money from friends,” the chief said.

More details will be made known as the investigation progresses, detectives said.

“We are getting many people in Honolulu with long criminal records,” Chief Gabrielson commented. “The detectives have done good work in the investigation.”