Court rewards four policemen for refusing to take bribe

Kumasi, June 18, GNA - Four Police Officers of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Ghana Police Service in Kumasi, who refused to take GH¢20,000 bribe to kill a drug case, have been rewarded with half the amount as motivation by a Kumasi Circuit Court.

The rest of the money has been sent to the government chest. According to Police Prosecutor Archibald Kwesi Fandoh, the four policemen initially feigned interest and collected the amount offered them by Kwaku Owusu, to release Edward Acquaye, who had been arrested by the officers and put in custody, for carting in his vehicle three mini fertilizer sacks containing dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. The police officer however arrested Kwaku Owusu after collecting the GH¢20,000 and tendered the amount in the court.

Giving further details to the court presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Amo-Yartey, prosecutor Fandoh said Edward Acquaye was arrested on May 17 at Pakyi near Kumasi while driving a Benz vehicle with registration number GR 6978 V in which the substance had been concealed. He said three days later, Kwaku Owusu in the company of one Anarfi showed up at the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and offered the amount to the officers and pleaded with them to release the accused and drop the case.

Prosecutor said after taking the money, the officers detected that Kwaku Owusu was also on board the vehicle at the time it was intercepted but managed to jump off and escaped arrest. He was then arrested and arraigned before the court together with accused.