Front Page: Daily Graphic, September 30, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
FUEL supply to 19 oil marketing companies in the country has been cut by the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) for accumulating a debt of GH¢53,820,245.41
Explaining the hiccup in fuel distribution which struck the country at the weekend, a highly placed source close to TOR told the Daily Graphic that the situation was not due to shortage of fuel, insisting “we have enough reserves to meet the demand”.
It said apart from the 19 oil companies which were heavily indebted to TOR and whose supplies had been completely cut, two other companies had been put on what it termed “allocation” list in which case TOR would determine the quantum of petroleum products to supply the two companies and not what they would request for.
The 19 firms are Excel, Galaxy, Havilah, Manbah Gas Co. Ltd, Nasona, Sonnidom, Top Oil and Universal.
Others are Deliman Co. Ltd, Q8 Oil Gh. Ltd, Unique Oil Co. Ltd, Sky Petroleum Ltd and Merchant Oil.
The rest are Lambark Gas Ltd, Champion Oil Co. Ltd, Rural Energy, AP Oil and Gas, Deebabs Energy and Trading and Jusbro Petroleum Co. Ltd.
The two companies which have been put on allocation by TOR are Fraga Oil and Glory Oil Ltd.
The source said stoppage of supplies and those on “allocation” supplies took effect from September 24, 2009.
It said the decision to stop the supplies to those companies was part of the government’s efforts to clean TOR’s books.
It noted that because of TOR’s huge indebtedness, most banks had been reluctant to raise Letters of Credit for TOR but everything possible was being done to ensure adequate fuel supply to feed the market.
The source said but for the delay in the delivery of fuel last week, there would not have been any hiccups anyway and added that TOR suspected that some filling stations decided not to sell on hearing of shortages in some other fuel stations, particularly those in the northern part of the country.
According to the source, such firms wanted to cash in and take advantage, especially in the event of any upward price adjustments.
The source said officials of the National Petroleum Authority would be inspecting those fuel stations claiming they did not have fuel.
To further address the situation in which last Thursday’s supply, for example, was delayed, TOR has pumped almost six million litres of gasoline onto the market since Saturday.
At a press briefing on Monday, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr Kwabena Donkor, announced that the government had also opened letters of credit and secured payment arrangements for the supply of crude oil to the TOR in two weeks.
"We have opened the letters of credit and payment is guaranteed," he said.
The supply of the crude to TOR would enable the organisation to refine the product for the first time since September 2008.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
(Another suspected robbery gang menber nabbed
Page 14: Daily Graphic, September 30, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ANOTHER member of a group of armed robbers who allegedly trail people arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their homes and rob them has been arrested.
The suspect, Bright Akakpo, 22, alias Mumini Danjuma, was arrested at the Kporvi barrier on September 24, 2009 in a passenger bus.
The Daily Graphic in its September 24, 2009, edition published the story of the arrest of a man suspected to be the leader of the group, Magnus Otroku, alias Kobby, on September 16, 2009.
This was after one of Otroku’s accomplices, Nana Arhin, had been arrested at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle offering some passports belonging to some of their victims for sale.
A Toyota Yaris saloon car, with registration number GR 1097 Y, which the gang used to trail their victims, has also been impounded.
The registration number of the car was found to be that of a KIA Sportage car, while a spare number plate GR 5723 Z was also retrieved from the boot of the vehicle.
In the story, it was reported that two other members of the gang, identified only as Bright and Biggie, were yet to be arrested.
The police say they suspect that Biggie is the same as John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, alias Leon, on whom the police had placed a GH¢4,000 price tag.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayitey, said following the arrest of Kobby and the subsequent publication of the story in the national daily, the police had intelligence information that Bright and Biggie were planning to escape to Togo for fear of being arrested in Ghana.
He said the Accra Regional Police Command provided a crack team of officers to support the Madina police at Kporvi.
He said at about 4:30p.m. on September 24, 2009, a Madza passenger car pulled up at the barrier with the suspect, Bright, sitting in the front seat.
Chief Supt. Ayitey said when the police interrogated the driver he indicated that they were from Accra but passed through Frankadua to Ho enroute to Aflao.
According to him, Bright allegedly confessed to taking part in seven airport robberies together with other persons.
He said a search conducted at Bright’s place of abode in Accra led to the retrieval of a revolver, which the suspect had allegedly used in a number of robberies.
The police said the modus operandi of the gang was to wait in their car at a Filling Station near the airport and trail their victims to their houses before robbing them of personal effects and other valuable property they brought from abroad.
Story: Albert K. Salia
ANOTHER member of a group of armed robbers who allegedly trail people arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their homes and rob them has been arrested.
The suspect, Bright Akakpo, 22, alias Mumini Danjuma, was arrested at the Kporvi barrier on September 24, 2009 in a passenger bus.
The Daily Graphic in its September 24, 2009, edition published the story of the arrest of a man suspected to be the leader of the group, Magnus Otroku, alias Kobby, on September 16, 2009.
This was after one of Otroku’s accomplices, Nana Arhin, had been arrested at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle offering some passports belonging to some of their victims for sale.
A Toyota Yaris saloon car, with registration number GR 1097 Y, which the gang used to trail their victims, has also been impounded.
The registration number of the car was found to be that of a KIA Sportage car, while a spare number plate GR 5723 Z was also retrieved from the boot of the vehicle.
In the story, it was reported that two other members of the gang, identified only as Bright and Biggie, were yet to be arrested.
The police say they suspect that Biggie is the same as John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, alias Leon, on whom the police had placed a GH¢4,000 price tag.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Madina Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Paul Ayitey, said following the arrest of Kobby and the subsequent publication of the story in the national daily, the police had intelligence information that Bright and Biggie were planning to escape to Togo for fear of being arrested in Ghana.
He said the Accra Regional Police Command provided a crack team of officers to support the Madina police at Kporvi.
He said at about 4:30p.m. on September 24, 2009, a Madza passenger car pulled up at the barrier with the suspect, Bright, sitting in the front seat.
Chief Supt. Ayitey said when the police interrogated the driver he indicated that they were from Accra but passed through Frankadua to Ho enroute to Aflao.
According to him, Bright allegedly confessed to taking part in seven airport robberies together with other persons.
He said a search conducted at Bright’s place of abode in Accra led to the retrieval of a revolver, which the suspect had allegedly used in a number of robberies.
The police said the modus operandi of the gang was to wait in their car at a Filling Station near the airport and trail their victims to their houses before robbing them of personal effects and other valuable property they brought from abroad.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Police arrest three Pantang robbery gang members
Page 46: Daily Graphic, September 28, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE members of a robbery gang led by John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, have been arrested.
A Toyota RAV4 vehicle, which was snatched from its owner on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 9:20pm at Pantang, was retrieved from them at Ho on Saturday, September 19, 2009.
The three men, Paul Agbodo, 35, alias Amorabi, Vitus Norgbe, 25, both clearing agents at the Aflao border, and Richard Klutse, alias Zuka, a computer technician and a driver to Spider, are currently in custody at the Accra Regional Police headquarters.
Their boss, Fiagbedzi, who is said to be known in Ho and its environs as Bingy and “Two To Haze”, is reported to have escaped from the Police Hospital in 2006, where he was receiving treatment after he was stabbed by some of his victims in a robbery incident.
The police have promised a GH¢4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Fiagbedzi, who is also known as Leon.
Briefing newsmen in Accra, the Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the police had information that Fiagbedzi was at Ho for the Yam festival celebrations.
Based on that, he said, a team was despatched to Ho at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2009, to look for him.
He said based on intelligence the police had, a Toyota RAV4 vehicle with registration number ER 6787 X, was intercepted and its six occupants were arrested.
Although Fiagbedzi was not among those arrested, ACP Yuhono said, Zuka received a call from Vitus that Fiagbedzi had asked him (Vitus) to take the car from him and send it to Ho.
He said unknown to Vitus that Zuka had been arrested, it was arranged that the two (Vitus and Zuka) meet at Dzodze for the handover of the vehicle.
ACP Yohuno said on reaching Dzodze, the police took cover but Vitus spotted the police vehicle parked somewhere and suspected that Zuka had been arrested.
He said the police arrested Vitus after a hot chase, who then mentioned Paul Agbodo as his boss, who had sent him for the car.
He appealed to members of the public to assist the police to arrest Fiagbedzi, who, he said, had shaved off his beard and “looks more gentle now”.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THREE members of a robbery gang led by John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, have been arrested.
A Toyota RAV4 vehicle, which was snatched from its owner on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 9:20pm at Pantang, was retrieved from them at Ho on Saturday, September 19, 2009.
The three men, Paul Agbodo, 35, alias Amorabi, Vitus Norgbe, 25, both clearing agents at the Aflao border, and Richard Klutse, alias Zuka, a computer technician and a driver to Spider, are currently in custody at the Accra Regional Police headquarters.
Their boss, Fiagbedzi, who is said to be known in Ho and its environs as Bingy and “Two To Haze”, is reported to have escaped from the Police Hospital in 2006, where he was receiving treatment after he was stabbed by some of his victims in a robbery incident.
The police have promised a GH¢4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Fiagbedzi, who is also known as Leon.
Briefing newsmen in Accra, the Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander, ACP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the police had information that Fiagbedzi was at Ho for the Yam festival celebrations.
Based on that, he said, a team was despatched to Ho at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2009, to look for him.
He said based on intelligence the police had, a Toyota RAV4 vehicle with registration number ER 6787 X, was intercepted and its six occupants were arrested.
Although Fiagbedzi was not among those arrested, ACP Yuhono said, Zuka received a call from Vitus that Fiagbedzi had asked him (Vitus) to take the car from him and send it to Ho.
He said unknown to Vitus that Zuka had been arrested, it was arranged that the two (Vitus and Zuka) meet at Dzodze for the handover of the vehicle.
ACP Yohuno said on reaching Dzodze, the police took cover but Vitus spotted the police vehicle parked somewhere and suspected that Zuka had been arrested.
He said the police arrested Vitus after a hot chase, who then mentioned Paul Agbodo as his boss, who had sent him for the car.
He appealed to members of the public to assist the police to arrest Fiagbedzi, who, he said, had shaved off his beard and “looks more gentle now”.
Leader of suspected armed robbers nabbed
Story: Albert K. Salia
A Man suspected of being a leader of a group of armed robbers who have been trailing people arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their homes to rob them has been arrested.
Magnus Otroku, alias Kobby, was arrested after one of his accomplices, Nana Arhin, was arrested at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle offering some passports belonging to some of their victims for sale.
A Toyota Yaris saloon car, with registration number GR 1097 Y, which the gang used to trail their victims, has also been impounded.
The registration number of the car has been found to be that of KIA Sportage car, while a spare number plate GR 5723 Z was also retrieved from the boot of the vehicle.
Two other members of the gang, identified only as Bright and Biggie, are yet to be arrested. The police suspect that Biggie is the same as John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, alias Leon, on whom the police had placed a GH¢4,000 price tag.
The modus operandi of the gang was to wait in their car at a Filling Station near the airport to trail their victims to their houses before robbing them of personal effects and other valuable property brought from abroad.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, said following a series of complaints about armed robbers trailing people from the airport and attacking them at the gates of their homes, police undertook a number of operational measures at the airport to gather as much intelligence and intensify their patrols.
She explained that all the complaints lodged with the police indicated that four men, using an ash Toyota Yaris car, trailed the victims from the airport to the entrances to their homes and attacked them.
She cited an incident on September 5, 2009, in which a woman was trailed to her East Legon residence and attacked by the robbers, who took away all her luggage, including her passport.
DCOP Atinga said on September 8, 2009, a couple was also attacked by four men and deprived of the luggage their relative had just brought from abroad, with the most recent case taking place on September 15, 2009 in which a lady was also deprived of her luggage at the entrance to her residence.
According to her, the Nima police arrested four men at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle on September 8, 2009, offering a passport for sale.
She said the four suspects, Justice Nana Arhinful, Kweku Acheampong, Nana Kwabena Dallas and Kofi Boakye, alias Onasis, who are all currently on bail, mentioned Magnus Otroku, alias Kobby, as the source of the passport.
DCOP Atinga said the Madina Police on September 16, 2009 spotted Kobby in a wine Toyota Yaris car, with registration number GR 1097 Y, at the Madina taxi rank and arrested him.
She said Kobby allegedly confessed to changing the colour of the car from ash to wine four days prior to his arrest.
She said Kobby then led the police to his hotel hide-out at Ashaley Botwe, where he had been lodging for two weeks. The police retrieved pieces of cloths, jewellery, watches and an American passport from the hotel.
DCOP Atinga said Kobby led the police to a hide-out at Nungua, where he suspected Bright and Biggie were hiding.
At the place, she said, a 24-year-old man, Iddrisu Lamin, suspected to be an apprentice to his senior brother, Mohammed Sualisu, was arrested for operating a shrine, where suspected criminals went to fortify themselves before embarking on their operations.
A Man suspected of being a leader of a group of armed robbers who have been trailing people arriving at the Kotoka International Airport to their homes to rob them has been arrested.
Magnus Otroku, alias Kobby, was arrested after one of his accomplices, Nana Arhin, was arrested at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle offering some passports belonging to some of their victims for sale.
A Toyota Yaris saloon car, with registration number GR 1097 Y, which the gang used to trail their victims, has also been impounded.
The registration number of the car has been found to be that of KIA Sportage car, while a spare number plate GR 5723 Z was also retrieved from the boot of the vehicle.
Two other members of the gang, identified only as Bright and Biggie, are yet to be arrested. The police suspect that Biggie is the same as John Kofi Fiagbedzi, alias Spider, alias Leon, on whom the police had placed a GH¢4,000 price tag.
The modus operandi of the gang was to wait in their car at a Filling Station near the airport to trail their victims to their houses before robbing them of personal effects and other valuable property brought from abroad.
Briefing newsmen in Accra yesterday, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atinga, said following a series of complaints about armed robbers trailing people from the airport and attacking them at the gates of their homes, police undertook a number of operational measures at the airport to gather as much intelligence and intensify their patrols.
She explained that all the complaints lodged with the police indicated that four men, using an ash Toyota Yaris car, trailed the victims from the airport to the entrances to their homes and attacked them.
She cited an incident on September 5, 2009, in which a woman was trailed to her East Legon residence and attacked by the robbers, who took away all her luggage, including her passport.
DCOP Atinga said on September 8, 2009, a couple was also attacked by four men and deprived of the luggage their relative had just brought from abroad, with the most recent case taking place on September 15, 2009 in which a lady was also deprived of her luggage at the entrance to her residence.
According to her, the Nima police arrested four men at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle on September 8, 2009, offering a passport for sale.
She said the four suspects, Justice Nana Arhinful, Kweku Acheampong, Nana Kwabena Dallas and Kofi Boakye, alias Onasis, who are all currently on bail, mentioned Magnus Otroku, alias Kobby, as the source of the passport.
DCOP Atinga said the Madina Police on September 16, 2009 spotted Kobby in a wine Toyota Yaris car, with registration number GR 1097 Y, at the Madina taxi rank and arrested him.
She said Kobby allegedly confessed to changing the colour of the car from ash to wine four days prior to his arrest.
She said Kobby then led the police to his hotel hide-out at Ashaley Botwe, where he had been lodging for two weeks. The police retrieved pieces of cloths, jewellery, watches and an American passport from the hotel.
DCOP Atinga said Kobby led the police to a hide-out at Nungua, where he suspected Bright and Biggie were hiding.
At the place, she said, a 24-year-old man, Iddrisu Lamin, suspected to be an apprentice to his senior brother, Mohammed Sualisu, was arrested for operating a shrine, where suspected criminals went to fortify themselves before embarking on their operations.
Police look for two fraudsters
Page 14: Daily Graphic, September 23, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO women who were alleged to have cloned the cheques of two companies and succeeded in withdrawing GH¢78,750 from the account of the affected companies, are on the run.
Polices sources said although the cheque holders were keeping their original cheques, the two suspects managed to secure similar cheques, forged the signatures of the cheque holders and issued to their (suspects’) companies as if the cheque holders were paying them for business transacted.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Public Affairs Officer of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Inspector J. B. Darkwah, said the two suspects, Doris Main and Lydia Appiah, alias Joyce Aboua Agyeiwah, operated two different accounts each with a financial institution.
He said while Doris Main opened two accounts in respect of Dorismain Trading Enterprise and Crosspack Enterprise, the second suspect, Lydia Appiah, opened a company in respect of Holoydy Ventures and used the name Joyce Aboua Agyeiwah to open another business account as Aboua Agyeiwa Enterprise.
According to him, after cloning the cheques of the companies, the suspects then issued those cheques as if they were coming from their original cheque holders.
Chief Inspector Darkwah said in one instance, Doris cloned the cheque of Taramic Enterprise and issued it for GH¢14,300 to be paid to Dormain Enterprise, which belonged to her.
He said Joyce also issued a cheque in the name of Thanks and Glory Enterprise to be paid to Aboua Agyeiwa Enterprise which belonged to her.
He explained that after such cheques had been cleared, Doris and Joyce would then issue new cheques to be cashed by their other companies.
Chief Inspector Darkwah said the police suspected that the two women knew each other as there were instances where cheques were issued in respect of each other’s companies.
He, therefore, appealed to members of the public who knew the whereabouts of the two women to contact the nearest police station or the CID headquarters.
Story: Albert K. Salia
TWO women who were alleged to have cloned the cheques of two companies and succeeded in withdrawing GH¢78,750 from the account of the affected companies, are on the run.
Polices sources said although the cheque holders were keeping their original cheques, the two suspects managed to secure similar cheques, forged the signatures of the cheque holders and issued to their (suspects’) companies as if the cheque holders were paying them for business transacted.
Briefing the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the Public Affairs Officer of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Chief Inspector J. B. Darkwah, said the two suspects, Doris Main and Lydia Appiah, alias Joyce Aboua Agyeiwah, operated two different accounts each with a financial institution.
He said while Doris Main opened two accounts in respect of Dorismain Trading Enterprise and Crosspack Enterprise, the second suspect, Lydia Appiah, opened a company in respect of Holoydy Ventures and used the name Joyce Aboua Agyeiwah to open another business account as Aboua Agyeiwa Enterprise.
According to him, after cloning the cheques of the companies, the suspects then issued those cheques as if they were coming from their original cheque holders.
Chief Inspector Darkwah said in one instance, Doris cloned the cheque of Taramic Enterprise and issued it for GH¢14,300 to be paid to Dormain Enterprise, which belonged to her.
He said Joyce also issued a cheque in the name of Thanks and Glory Enterprise to be paid to Aboua Agyeiwa Enterprise which belonged to her.
He explained that after such cheques had been cleared, Doris and Joyce would then issue new cheques to be cashed by their other companies.
Chief Inspector Darkwah said the police suspected that the two women knew each other as there were instances where cheques were issued in respect of each other’s companies.
He, therefore, appealed to members of the public who knew the whereabouts of the two women to contact the nearest police station or the CID headquarters.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Taxi driver in police grips for robbing passenger
Page 39: Daily Graphic, September 21, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 27-YEAR-OLD taxi driver, Simpson Quartey, has been arrested by the Odorkor police for allegedly robbing a female passenger.
Simpson was alleged to have robbed his victim of her purse, work ID card, GH¢87 and other valuables on September 7, this year at about 5:30 a.m. at Awoshie Onyinase when she boarded the taxi with registration number GR 4148 Y on her way to work.
A mechanic, who was working on the vehicle later called the telephone numbers of the workplace of the victim when he found the ID card and two religious books all bearing the name of the victim.
The victim then informed the police, who later arrested the suspect.
Briefing newsmen in Accra, the Odorkor District Police Commander, Superintendent Kwaku Asare said Simpson pulled a toy pistol at the victim at a spot and directed her to hand over all items on her or be shot.
He said out of fear, the lady handed over all the items on her including her work ID card.
He said on September 14, 2009, the taxi was sent to a mechanic shop for repairs at Mallam Blue Cross.
Supt. Asare said the mechanic saw the ID card and the two books all bearing the name of the same person and, therefore, decided to call the telephone number on the ID card to draw the owner’s attention since it was possible she might have misplaced them.
According to him, after the lady had informed the Odorkor police about it, the police went to the mechanic’s shop but did not find the caller.
Supt Asare said when the police followed up the next day, they met the mechanic who handed over the items to the police and led the police to the owner of the taxi.
He said the owner of the taxi, Mr George Aboagye, denied knowledge of how the items found its way into the car and led the police to arrest Simpson, since he was the driver of the taxi.
He said the police found a toy pistol under the bed of Simpson when his room was searched.
The Odorkor police boss said when the victim was invited to identify which of the three men, that is, the mechanic, the car owner and the driver, had picked her, she pinpointed Simpson.
Investigations are ongoing.
Story: Albert K. Salia
A 27-YEAR-OLD taxi driver, Simpson Quartey, has been arrested by the Odorkor police for allegedly robbing a female passenger.
Simpson was alleged to have robbed his victim of her purse, work ID card, GH¢87 and other valuables on September 7, this year at about 5:30 a.m. at Awoshie Onyinase when she boarded the taxi with registration number GR 4148 Y on her way to work.
A mechanic, who was working on the vehicle later called the telephone numbers of the workplace of the victim when he found the ID card and two religious books all bearing the name of the victim.
The victim then informed the police, who later arrested the suspect.
Briefing newsmen in Accra, the Odorkor District Police Commander, Superintendent Kwaku Asare said Simpson pulled a toy pistol at the victim at a spot and directed her to hand over all items on her or be shot.
He said out of fear, the lady handed over all the items on her including her work ID card.
He said on September 14, 2009, the taxi was sent to a mechanic shop for repairs at Mallam Blue Cross.
Supt. Asare said the mechanic saw the ID card and the two books all bearing the name of the same person and, therefore, decided to call the telephone number on the ID card to draw the owner’s attention since it was possible she might have misplaced them.
According to him, after the lady had informed the Odorkor police about it, the police went to the mechanic’s shop but did not find the caller.
Supt Asare said when the police followed up the next day, they met the mechanic who handed over the items to the police and led the police to the owner of the taxi.
He said the owner of the taxi, Mr George Aboagye, denied knowledge of how the items found its way into the car and led the police to arrest Simpson, since he was the driver of the taxi.
He said the police found a toy pistol under the bed of Simpson when his room was searched.
The Odorkor police boss said when the victim was invited to identify which of the three men, that is, the mechanic, the car owner and the driver, had picked her, she pinpointed Simpson.
Investigations are ongoing.
'Probe conduct of head of PIPS'
Page 41: Daily Graphic, September 21, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE lawyer for the retired General of the United States Air Force, General James Kellim, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the conduct and role of the head of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Unit (PIPS) of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Timothy Ashley for his involvement in the effort to unlawfully arrest and detain Gen Kellim on September 15, 2009.
The lawyer, Mr Joe Aboagye Debrah, said the actions of ACP Ashley were wholly objectionable and a serious affront to the integrity of the Ghana Police Service.
“Indeed, we are dismayed that the very person who heads the unit detailed to help prevent and deal with the same incidents will engage in an unsanctioned operation for his personal ends,” he noted.
“We wish to further plead that his (ACP Ashley’s) previous conduct in the case of Mad. Patience Boateng be taken into consideration. Finally, we wish to state that ACP Ashley’s role in the Ghana Police Service is to act to prevent the exact issues he has orchestrated and that should not be allowed to continue as it will dent the image of the Ghana Police Service unduly,” he said.
In his September 16, 2009 petition, Mr Debrah wondered why ACP Ashley was in such a rush to get the story published by journalists, why Gen Kellim was denied access to his lawyers by ACP Ashley and why the ladies involved in the matter were released by ACP Ashley.
He further sought to know who the complainant was in the matter, what links ACP Ashley had with Madam Patience Boateng, the suspect in the substantive matter in which Gen Kellim had petitioned the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and what investigation PIPS conducted to warrant the raid on Gen Kellim.
“Why is that it was officers from PIPS who conducted the said raid? Was ACP Ashley aware that the criminal matter involving Madam Patience Boateng was being processed for court on Friday, September 18, 2009 and what offence under the Criminal Code, 1960, Act 29, as amended, did our client commit?” he asked.
Mr Debrah said counsel had been compelled to raise those issues and bring them to the IGP’s attention because “we are deeply concerned about the implications for the Ghana Police Service when its own internal integrity unit is able to act to frustrate other units of the service in a manner such as has happened to our client”.
According to him, they were also concerned about the potential damage to the country’s reputation from such ‘private ventures’ by police officers against foreigners who had cases against indigenes.
Mr Debrah recalled that on August 13, 2009, Gen Kellim had filed a complaint of stealing at the CID Headquarters against a Ghanaian lady named Patience Boateng involving approximately $50,000.00.
He said the suspect was bailed, she petitioned PIPS that she had been detained for more than 48 hours by the Police officers.
“Strangely, the same ACP Ashley then attempted to halt the entire investigation of the substantive matter. It took a petition from the then counsel of our client and the intervention of both the Legal Department of the Ghana Police Service and the Director, CID, to ensure that the investigation was not truncated,” he disclosed.
Mr Debrah said having failed in that effort, counsel found it extremely unusual that the same officer and men under his command could storm a hotel room and arrest Gen Kellim on clearly trumped up charges which had no foundation in fact or in law.
“We are also particularly concerned by the gross abuse of our client’s human rights by the said officer and his men who denied him access to his phones and to his counsel during his detention. We are dismayed that in pursuance of his personal objective of preventing the substantive case from proceeding, the said ACP Ashley managed to assemble journalists, both print and electronic into his office and paraded our client before them, causing severe embarrassment to his hard-won image and reputation,” he said.
He expressed regret that the actions of ACP Ashley had directly led to newspaper publications on the matter in the Daily Guide and Ghanaian Times newspapers and also a news item on the evening news of on September 15, 2009.
Story: Albert K. Salia
THE lawyer for the retired General of the United States Air Force, General James Kellim, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate the conduct and role of the head of the Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Unit (PIPS) of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Timothy Ashley for his involvement in the effort to unlawfully arrest and detain Gen Kellim on September 15, 2009.
The lawyer, Mr Joe Aboagye Debrah, said the actions of ACP Ashley were wholly objectionable and a serious affront to the integrity of the Ghana Police Service.
“Indeed, we are dismayed that the very person who heads the unit detailed to help prevent and deal with the same incidents will engage in an unsanctioned operation for his personal ends,” he noted.
“We wish to further plead that his (ACP Ashley’s) previous conduct in the case of Mad. Patience Boateng be taken into consideration. Finally, we wish to state that ACP Ashley’s role in the Ghana Police Service is to act to prevent the exact issues he has orchestrated and that should not be allowed to continue as it will dent the image of the Ghana Police Service unduly,” he said.
In his September 16, 2009 petition, Mr Debrah wondered why ACP Ashley was in such a rush to get the story published by journalists, why Gen Kellim was denied access to his lawyers by ACP Ashley and why the ladies involved in the matter were released by ACP Ashley.
He further sought to know who the complainant was in the matter, what links ACP Ashley had with Madam Patience Boateng, the suspect in the substantive matter in which Gen Kellim had petitioned the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and what investigation PIPS conducted to warrant the raid on Gen Kellim.
“Why is that it was officers from PIPS who conducted the said raid? Was ACP Ashley aware that the criminal matter involving Madam Patience Boateng was being processed for court on Friday, September 18, 2009 and what offence under the Criminal Code, 1960, Act 29, as amended, did our client commit?” he asked.
Mr Debrah said counsel had been compelled to raise those issues and bring them to the IGP’s attention because “we are deeply concerned about the implications for the Ghana Police Service when its own internal integrity unit is able to act to frustrate other units of the service in a manner such as has happened to our client”.
According to him, they were also concerned about the potential damage to the country’s reputation from such ‘private ventures’ by police officers against foreigners who had cases against indigenes.
Mr Debrah recalled that on August 13, 2009, Gen Kellim had filed a complaint of stealing at the CID Headquarters against a Ghanaian lady named Patience Boateng involving approximately $50,000.00.
He said the suspect was bailed, she petitioned PIPS that she had been detained for more than 48 hours by the Police officers.
“Strangely, the same ACP Ashley then attempted to halt the entire investigation of the substantive matter. It took a petition from the then counsel of our client and the intervention of both the Legal Department of the Ghana Police Service and the Director, CID, to ensure that the investigation was not truncated,” he disclosed.
Mr Debrah said having failed in that effort, counsel found it extremely unusual that the same officer and men under his command could storm a hotel room and arrest Gen Kellim on clearly trumped up charges which had no foundation in fact or in law.
“We are also particularly concerned by the gross abuse of our client’s human rights by the said officer and his men who denied him access to his phones and to his counsel during his detention. We are dismayed that in pursuance of his personal objective of preventing the substantive case from proceeding, the said ACP Ashley managed to assemble journalists, both print and electronic into his office and paraded our client before them, causing severe embarrassment to his hard-won image and reputation,” he said.
He expressed regret that the actions of ACP Ashley had directly led to newspaper publications on the matter in the Daily Guide and Ghanaian Times newspapers and also a news item on the evening news of on September 15, 2009.
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