POLICE RECRUITMENT SAGA, PROSECUTION FAILS TO GET ACCUSED REMANDED

By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba

There was a heated legal battle between the prosecutor and defence counsel at the Accra Circuit Court yesterday, when the four accused persons, including an Inspector of police, who were arrested for engaging in fraudulent activities to recruit young men and women into the Ghana police services, were brought for prosecution.

The prosecutor, Superintendent of Police (SOP), Mr. Abraham Annor had had an intense time with the defence counsel, in his attempt to convince the court to remand the accused persons into custody to assist investigations.

Standing trial at the court are, a police Inspector, Mr. Senyo Ameyaw, a laboratory Technician at the Police Hospital, , Sylvanus Kumah, a businessman, Madam Faustina Kumah, police labour and Daniel Danso, also a police labour.

They are alleged to have collected various sums of money ranging between GHC2, 000 and GHC3, 000, from about 150 young men and women to assist them get enlisted into the police services.

They have been charged with two counts each for conspiracy to commit crime to wit defrauds and defrauding by false pretence contrary to Section 131 of Act 29 of the criminal offence Act 1960, but they all pleaded not guilty.

Arguing for the court to remand the accused persons, the police prosecutor said, investigation was not yet completed and the accused would interfere in the investigation process if they are granted bail.

According to Superintendent Annor,  the  police needed few days  to conduct further investigations into the case, saying the victims involved are as many as 150 , and that the investigation team would need to take down each person statement on the matter.

He said, the case was so important to the police services, as it tried to prevent activities of such in the country and pleaded with the court to remand the accused persons into custody to assist in investigations.

But the defecne counsel vehemently disagreed with the prosecution, saying the police have had ample time to conduct their investigation when the accused persons were arrested and that the request by the prosecution was a clear deliberate attempt to have their clients remanded illegally.

Mr. George Asamani , a member of the defence counsel, argued that, the offence leveled against the accused persons were bailable and that, the court should not entertain the prosecution request  to unlawfully remand the accused persons into custody.

According to the defence, it would amount to abuse of the fundamental human rights of the accused if the court remands them in custody without taking into consideration that the offence were one which bail could be granted.

However, after listening to both the prosecution and the defence, the presiding judge, Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of GHC10, 0000 with three sureties each.

They were also ordered to report to the police every day, between the hours of 10 am - 12 noon to assist investigation.

The facts of the case presented to the court by the prosecution were that, somewhere in May this year, the police intelligent received information that, the accused persons had recruited about 150 young men and women and collect ted various sum of money and deceived them that they were going to be enlisted into the police services.

Superintendent Annor, explained that, the accused persons succeeded in collecting a total of GHC250, 000 from the young men and women and asked them to report to the police Hospital on June 16, this year at 2: pm to undergo medical examination.

He said, on the June 16, at about 2;pm, the police spotted about 150 young men and women assembled at the Police Hospital premises waiting to undergo the process before Inspector Senyop Ameyaw, at the Police Laboratory.

According to the prosecutor, the police administration got wing of the activities of the accused persons and quickly dispatched a team of police from the Panthers Unit to the premises at the Police Hospital.

Superintendent Annor, noted that, a search conducted on the accused persons revealed a number of police enlistment documents and cash of GHC81, 250.00.

He said, the accused persons were then arrested and sent to the CID Head office  and  charged for the offence and brought to court while investigations continues.

The case has been adjourned to July 4, this year.