Unemployed jailed for possessing handcuff

An Accra Circuit Court on Friday sentenced, Francis Afful , unemployed, to five years imprisonment for unlawful possession of police accoutrement contrary to section 28 (One) of the Police Service Act 1970.

Afful was convicted on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police Ernest Acheampong, told the court presided over by Mr Ali Baba, that the complainants in the case were Policemen from the Regional Police Headquarters.

He said on June 5, the police who were on their normal night patrol duties around Madina and its surroundings, and at about 23:45pm, received a distressed call from a reliable source that a young man, was posing as a police officer around the Madina Fire Service and extorting monies from people.

The prosecution said, the team proceeded to the scene and spotted the convict with one wrapper of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

He said the convict was arrested and when searched a pair of police handcuff and a piece of paper in identity form with the inscription “police pastor,” were found on him.

The prosecution said when asked as to how he had the handcuff, Afful said it was given to him by a policeman-friend stationed at Madina, but could not mention the friend's name or lead police to arrest him.