Fake police ASP jailed for 18 months

A twenty-three old unemployed, Solomon Adjekum who impersonated as a CID Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) based at the Police Headquarters in Accra was jailed 18 months for impersonation and defrauding by false pretence.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Elizabeth Arthur told the court, presided over by Mrs, Ivy Heward-Mills that on 21 May 2003, Solomon Adjekum called on Mrs Naomi Micah, a computer designer/pharmacist and informed her that, he Solomon was an ASP with the CID Police Headquarters and that on 21 May, he and his men were patrolling the streets of Bawaleshie a suburb of Accra, when his men arrested two young men who were breaking into her pharmacy shop.

Solomon added that the culprits were to be put before court on 22 May and therefore, needed an amount of ?250,000 as an "aid" to speed up investigations

Solomon even went further to tell Mrs Micah that in the course of their patrolling, he and his men were chasing a car loaded with boards and because of her, they had to abandon that chase and rather arrest the two young men.

Micah therefore, told Solomon to leave his telephone number and the name of his station which he did and requested Solomon to come for the money the following day.

At the appointed time Solomon went to Mrs. Micah at Bawaleshie and she told him that she could only afford an amount of ?100,000. Without hesitation, Solomon collected the amount and while leaving he was spotted by a young man who told Mrs Micah that he (Solomon) leaves with them in Bawaleshie.

A search party was then organised and the fake ASP was apprehended around the American House near Bawaleshie and was handed over to the Legon police for prosecution.