13 suspects paraded by the Police could not be identified

Koforidua, July 19, GNA- A large crowd that thronged the Koforidua Central Police Station on Tuesday in a bid to have a glimpse of suspected criminals who were on parade were disappointed as they were told by the police to register before they could be allowed to enter the yard to identify the suspect.

The police had earlier made an announcement that suspected criminals arrested by the police

at the weekend would be paraded and that any member of the public who had fallen victim to any of criminal acts in the Municipality should come and identify any of the suspects on parade.

When the identification parade finally began only seven people had registered and could not identify any of the suspects on parade. The Municipal Police Commander, Chief Superintendent, Alhaji M. Sumailla, said despite the inability of the public to identify any of the suspects they would still remand them in police custody for further investigations .

He said, though the announcement was that the parade was open to the public, the registration was purposely done to protect the identity of the people who might identify any of the suspects.

Alhaji Sumailla explained that during such parades, there were instances where "friends of the suspect" come purposely to look out and target those who come to identify the suspects.

He appealed to the public to volunteer information to the police to apprehend the criminals in society and gave the assurance that the police would protect the identity of the informants.

Alhaji Sumailla said the suspects on parade which included a police personnel were rounded up over the weekend at various vantage points in the Koforidua Municipality for dealing in various drugs suspected to be India hemp.

He said the exercise was carried out after the police had received several complaints of harassment by those drug peddlers from the public and added that more of such exercises would be carried out to flush out dealers in illegal drugs in the Municipality.