Ernest Adu Safo and Enoch Baah in police custody
Two men have been apprehended by the Kwabenya District police for allegedly using police uniforms to extort various sums of money from unsuspecting drivers and motor riders.
The suspects are Ernest Adu Sarfo, 24 years old and Enoch Baah, 27.
They were apprehended separately operating at Kwabenya Total and Atomic Junction respectively – all suburbs of Accra. Baah, upon his arrest, had a fake letter of appointment which indicated that he was a police officer.
Both suspects were said to have dressed like police officers, with their berets, and the crowns fixed in their uniforms while Baah was wearing a sergeant’s cap in addition.
Both are in the custody of the Kwabenya police assisting in investigations.
Confirming the story to DAILY GUIDE, Superintendent Victoria Yamoah, the Kwabenya District Police Commander, said Adu Sarfo was apprehended on June 28, 2016 while Enoch Baah was arrested on July 1, 2016.
For some time, the police at Kwabenya had been receiving information that their men were extorting various sums of money from drivers and so the police were on the lookout to fish out those perpetrating that act.
She disclosed that on June 28, 2016, some personnel on visibility checks at the Atomic Total area spotted Ernest Sarfo in police uniform and beret, but with no police crown and line yard.
Superintendent Victoria Yamoah said the police quickly arrested him and brought him to the station to be interrogated.
While writing his caution statement, suspect Sarfo produced a fake appointment letter signed by one Inspector Boakye, whom he claimed was in Accra.
Suspect was said to have told the police that one Appiah, a police officer, enlisted about 80 of them into the Police Service.
He claimed that the said Appiah took them to Afram Plains in the Eastern Region for a month’s vigorous training in policing duties.
“While undergoing training, Mr Appiah started demanding various sums of money from us and so more than 70 of the recruits withdrew, leaving only eight of us,” he asserted.
He continued that they often travelled to Nsawam to play a football match and other activities as part of their training.
After the training, they were all given appointment letters signed by one Inspector Boakye and were asked to report at their various posts in the Northern Region.
Superintendent Yamoah said police received a complaint from some motor riders that a police officer had been pestering them for money and so they were asked to quickly inform the police anytime the said police officer was around.
On that fateful day, the riders said the suspect came to them for money and they caused his arrest before calling the Kwabenya police for assistance.
Police quickly went to the scene and brought suspect to the station for interrogation.
While being interrogated, it came to light that Baah was a private security officer with Omega 3 Security Services.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey