Cop forcibly withdraws money from civilian's Mobile Money account

A Corporate Marketer, name withheld, has accused a policeman stationed at Sowutuom police station in Accra of bullying and forcibly extorting money from him.

Narrating his ordeal to Moro Awudu on the Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) on Class91.3FM on Monday, 15 October 2018, the victim said on Monday, 8 October 2018, he witnessed a car crash between a Sprinter bus and a Hyundai Atos between 9 pm and 10 pm.

According to him, onlookers claimed the ‘trotro’ driver was high on tramadol and alcohol, and, so, he decided to video the accident on his mobile phone.

While recording, a policeman approached him and seized his phone. Although he begged the law officer to return the phone and promised to delete the video, the policeman threatened to hit him with his rifle if he begged any further.

The policeman ordered him to follow him to the Sowutuom police station if he needed his phone back.

The victim, who said he did not want to be seen in a police vehicle, said he took a taxi to the station.

When he arrived at the station, the policeman asked him to pay half the price of the phone to him before he gives it back.

According to the victim, the phone cost GHS600 but he could not afford to pay GHS300 to the policeman.

The policeman then demanded his password, went through his phone and noticed he had registered for mobile money.

The cop demanded his pin and withdrew an amount of GHS190 out of the total GHS201 he had in his mobile money wallet before handing the phone over to him.

The victim said he feels his rights have been abused and is seeking justice.

He has since been advised to report the policeman to the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau (PIPS), for redress.