Policeman arrested for extortion

Police Sergeant William Opoku Acheampong stationed at Tema Fishing Harbour was on Monday arraigned at a Tema Circuit Tribunal on a provisional charge of unlawful imprisonment and extortion.

Acheampong, jointly charged with his friend, Kwame Ackufor, who also posed as a Police Officer, were remanded in custody to re-appear on November 13. Their pleas were not taken.

Briefing newsmen, Mr George Appiah, Tema Regional Crime Officer, said Acheampong had refused to proceed on transfer and deserted his house.

He said last Saturday, Acheampong who was accompanied by his friend, Ackufor arrested one Mr Owusu at the premises of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and immediately handcuffed him on suspicion of smoking "Indian hemp''.

Mr Appiah said Acheampong, initially demanded 20 million cedis from the suspect to shelve the matter but Owusu bargained until they finally settled at 500,000 cedis.

Thereafter, Acheampong, drove Owusu in his (Acheampong's) Mitsubishi saloon car with the registration number GT 5396 C, to a friend of Owusu where he (Owusu) borrowed 200,000 cedis to add to his own 300,000 cedis and gave it to Acheampong.

The Crime Officer said from there he drove again to the Kpone Police Station and demanded a key to open the handcuff to release Owusu. Mr Appiah said no Indian hemp was found on Owusu when searched.