Policeman punches driver to stop bribery attempt

A Police Chief Inspector, who could not stand the persistent attempts by a driver to bribe him over a road traffic offence, on Friday, gave the driver a punch to shrug him off.

Mr David Nenyi Ampah-Bennin, Volta Regional Police Commander, was leading a team of police personnel and officials of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) on a road check, when the incident happened.

He commended the Police Chief Inspector for rejecting the bribe but reprimanded him for the punch.

Mr Nicholas Hlordzi, the Chief Inspector told the Ghana News Agency that, one Etornam Adoama, driver of a Hyundai Grace H100 vehicle, with Registration number ER 875Y, pestered him for about 45 minutes with a GH₵10.00 offer.

He said Adoama was arrested for overloading and on realizing that he was being processed for court came down to offer the bribe and “would not take no for an answer”, until he got the knock.

Mr Hlordzi explaining, said Adoama’s insistence was embarrassing and he had to give him a “soft knock” to keep him away.

The GNA observed that some drivers, on being signaled to stop, quickly put some monies into their driving licenses for the officers, only to realize that the Police were not interested, and had to resort to pleading for leniency.

Mr Frederic Lumor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), in charge of the Volta Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), said the exercise was going to be a regular event, to reduce the carnage on the roads.

Mr Eric Ayisi-Addo, Acting Volta Regional Licensing Officer was amazed about the use of photocopies of driver’s licenses, which he said was not allowed.

A total of 24 vehicles, made up of both commercial and private were impounded, and the drivers processed for court.

Source: GNA