Pubdate: Tue, 23 Mar 2004
Source: Ghanaian Chronicle (Ghana)
Copyright: 2004 Ghanaian Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.ghanaian-chronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2455
Authors: Dominic Jale & David Allan Paintsil

IN ATTEMPT TO 'KILL' CASE, POLICE BRIBE INFORMANT?

THE POLICE administration is investigating a case in which the Akwatia 
Police Command in the Eastern Region is alleged to have bribed an informant 
to drop a case against a suspected drug peddler.

On September 22, 2003, Mr Frank Matey Sackitey lodged a complaint to the 
Inspector General of Police (IGP) with c100, 000 alleged to be the bribe 
money given him by the police as his share for alerting them about the drug 
transaction by a certain Kofi Savie.

The bribe was intended to influence the informant to soften his stand.

The Chronicle has gathered that when news got to the Akwatia police that 
the money they had given to Sackitey had been forwarded to the IGP, they 
allegedly started harassing him.

The Police Public Relations Directorate, confirming that Sackitey had 
deposited the alleged bribe money with the police administration, said the 
case was being investigated.

Efforts by The Chronicle to get the Akwatia police commander to react to 
the allegation were not successful.

However, information available to the paper indicated that on July 8, last 
year, Sackitey informed the police about the activities of one Kofi Savie, 
a suspected drug peddler.

The police, upon the tip-off, conducted a search of a car the suspect was 
using to transport the drug and arrested Savie in possession of some leaves 
suspected to be Indian hemp.

Another search of his room, uncovered some more of the leaves but the 
police rather accused Sackitey of planting the drugs on the suspect.

On July 30, last year, the two were arraigned before the Asamankese Circuit 
Court and made to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for a year.

However, in order to prove that he had been falsely accused, Sackitey 
alerted the police, when once again, he found Savie conveying suspected 
Indian hemp leaves to Dwenase, his village. He was caught red-handed on 
September 18, 2003.

Sackitey alleged that the police extorted money from Savie and when he 
confronted the superintendent in charge of the station, he gave him 
c100,000 bribe to keep mute.

According to him, one Opanyin Yaw Poku, from Dwenase, paid the money after 
which the suspect was released from police custody.

But when he declared his intention to inform the IGP about the case, the 
police began to harass him. 
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