2 cops jailed 20 years* For conspiracy, robbery

Page 3: Daily Graphic, June 5, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
AN ACCRA Circuit Court yesterday sentenced two policemen to a total of 20 years imprisonment after convicting them on charges of conspiracy and robbery.
The convicts, Constables Joseph Frimpong and Frank Boakye, formerly of the Airport Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), joined the Ghana Police Service in 2003 and 2006, respectively.
The Presiding Judge, Mr Mahamadu Iddrisu, sentenced them to 10 years each on each count, both of which are to run concurrently.
The facts of the case, as presented by the prosecutor, ASP George Abavelim, were that on August 14, 2008, Frimpong and Boakye, together with four civilians who are yet to be identified, went to the Dzorwulu traffic light intersection purporting to be performing traffic duties.
He said on seeing a Mali-bound cargo truck loaded with bicycles, motorcycles and spare parts, the convicts stopped the truck.
He said the two policemen pulled out the driver of the truck and his two mates and put them into two waiting taxis.
According to the prosecutor, the driver and his mates were driven to the Achimota Forest and abandoned there, adding that the policemen and their civilian accomplices then drove the truck to an uncompleted building at a place known as Alafia at Darkuman in Accra where they discharged the goods.
ASP Abavelim said the convicts and their accomplices later abandoned the empty truck on the Kasoa-Winneba highway.
He said after a complaint had been lodged with the police, investigations led to the arrest of Boakye and Frimpong on September 16 and 17, 2008, respectively.