The police officer who left his rifle in a commercial vehicle after allegedly collecting a GH¢100 bribe from the driver has been interdicted.
Inspector Sulemana Adam with the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) was interdicted and referred to the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB).
The move, according to the police, is “to allow for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident”.
A press release issued by the Western Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service on Saturday, January 28 said the police inspector and the driver will both assist in investigations.
The driver had narrated on Connect FM‘s morning show, Omanbapa, how some police officers had stopped him for illegal parking.
“I loaded passengers from Coast to Takoradi,” he said.
“When I got to Takoradi around 8:30pm on Friday, a police vehicle with about five officers stopped me. They alighted all my passengers and told me I was under arrest and that I will be taken to the office to be processed before court which I agreed.
“On our way to the Police station, they stopped and told me that if they should take me to the Police station, I will pay GH¢500 and my vehicle will be locked until Monday. They then told me to pay GH¢150 and I pleaded with them to have mercy upon me. They told me I was not serious and that the only way they would allow me to go is GH¢100 for a last price. So I paid the GH¢100 and they left me to go and continue my work.”
He said it was later that he found out that the rifle had been left in the front seat of his car.
“The rifle has since been returned by the driver of the said vehicle who also alleged that the Inspector had extorted money from him.”