Two fake Police officers jailed
An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced two men who impersonated as Police Officers to various terms of imprisonment in hard labour.
They had earlier pleaded guilty to various charges.
Michael Asare, Unemployed, and Ernest Kofi Baah, Taxi Driver, were charged for dressing in Police uniform, conspiring and robbing one Louis Farouk of his bag containing an amount of GH¢2,500.00
The charges include possessing police accoutrement and defrauding four persons by false pretence.
Michael pleaded guilty to the charges of possessing police accoutrement, and defrauding by false pretences and is to serve two years imprisonment on each count in hard labour to run concurrently.
He is also to pay a fine of GH¢1,200.00 or in default serve six months.
Ernest on the other hand pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in hard labour.
Michael however pleaded not guilty to the charge of Conspiracy to commit crime and Robbery, whilst Ernest also pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, possessing police accoutrement, and defrauding by false pretence.
The court adjourned the matter to March 21 for commencement of trial for the other charges they denied.
Proceedings as observed by the Ghana News Agency in court was that Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu, told the court that the first complainant Louis is a Mason and a resident of Ablekuma.
The Second, third and fourth complainants are Frank Ansah Sekyi, Ofori Atta, Shadrack Ofosu, all Farmers residing at Aburi, and fifth complainant Emmanuel Kumi, businessman, lives at Odorkor.
He said Micheal and Ernest both reside at Ablekuma.
On January 23, at about 1630 hours, the convicts dressed in Police uniform on board a taxi with registration No. GT 2162 W attacked the first complainant with police shocker, subjected him to severe beating and robbed him of his bag containing cash of GH¢2,500.00 and bolted.
Louis made a report to the police and convicts were subsequently arrested for investigation.
The prosecution said when a search was conducted on them, one fake Police Identity card bearing the name Michael, three black Police T-shirts, two pairs of Police boots, one Police helmet, one Police long baton, two pairs of Police trousers, two reflectors and one shocker allegedly used to perpetrate the crime were retrieved.
Prosecution told the court that while investigation was on going, Frank, Ofori, Shadrack and Emmanuel came to the station and reported that, the convicts claimed they were police Commanders by name Commander Wiafe and Commander Theresa from National Police Headquarters in charge of enlistment into the Service.
Police Chief Inspector Adu said they told the police that they could help them recruit their wards. The two therefore demanded and collected an amount of GH¢42,000.00 and another GH¢8,500.00 under the pretext of recruiting their wards into the Ghana Police Service, but after collecting the money, they vanished into thin air.
He said when the convicts were interrogated, they allegedly admitted the offences.
Source: GNA