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Four CEPS officials hauled before
court for extortion
Accra Sept. 21, Ghanadot/GNA - Four Customs, Excise and
Preventive Service (CEPS) officials from the Tema Harbour
Car Park were on Thursday hauled before an Accra Circuit
Court for conspiracy and extortion.
Alphonse Quainoo; Cornelius Amedudze; Emmanuel Ayi Hammond
and Samuel Nyarkotey Tei dressed in their uniforms were
alleged to have collected 20 million cedis from an importer,
who had gone to clear his car at Tema Harbour Customs office
on September 19, 2007.
The court did not take their pleas and remanded them into
police custody to reappear on September 27.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) prayed the court to
remand them because investigations were ongoing.
Mr Agyei Lartey, who represented the accused persons, said
if the monies were found in their drawers then "there is no
case against them," adding the accused persons should be
admitted to bail.
ASP George Abavelim told the court that on September 19
2007, following complaints that some people were extorting
monies from importers, security operatives went to the Tema
Car Park.
During the operation, the security personnel arrested the
four CEPS officials in their offices and when a spot check
was conducted cash of GH 2,587 cedis was found in the
drawers of Quainoo and Amedudze.
Prosecution said Quainoo admitted the offence of extortion
saying the GH 2,000 cedis belonged to him and his
colleagues.
Amedudze also said 587 was his earning from tips from
clients.
ASP Abavelim said investigations were ongoing.
GNA
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