Ghana Police says still investigating recruitment fraud
An Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, has adjourned to June 15, the case of the seven alleged persons involved in a police recruitment fraud.
The case was adjourned because the investigator told the court that the Police were processing information from 1000 complainants to enhance investigation in the case.
At the last adjourned date, the prosecution told the court they were waiting for the advice from the Attorney-General’s Department on the duplicate docket.
The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and are on bail.
As part of the bail conditions, the accused persons were asked to report to the Police twice weekly – on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Aidan Dery, presenting the facts to the court earlier, said the complainant in the case was a police officer.
He said following numerous reports of enlistment fraud into the Ghana Police Service, the Police Administration put up measures to arrest the perpetrators by informing all officers to be alert.
He said on December 24, last year, following intelligence gathered, Ayisha Boku Asumda, Joshua Palba and Wuni Salinko were arrested when they were in the process of collecting the outstanding balance of money from their victim, after issuing him with a forged enlistment form and an appointment letter.
The Prosecution said a search was immediately conducted at Ayisha’s house and GH₵58,888 cash, and many forged police enlistment application forms were found.
“When questioned about the forms, Ayisha, who is the architect of the recruitment fraud, claimed the forms were given to her by Awuni, whose whereabouts are not known,” he said.
He said Ayisha in her statement admitted collecting monies ranging from GH¢4,000 to GH¢7,000 from many people and issuing them with enlistment application forms, all with the same serial number.
DSP Dery told the court that these victims were to report to the National Police Training School on January 31 for their training.
He said on January 2, Salinko, who had been on the run, was spotted at Kwame Nkrumah Circle by one of the victims, who raised alarm and he was arrested to assist in investigations.
He alleged that Salinko admitted in his caution statement to have collected money from 18 victims amounting to GH¢63,000, and had since refunded GH¢11, 950.
“He also confirmed knowing Awuni as being part of the syndicate” DSP Derry said.
The prosecution said while investigations were in progress, the Police arrested A5, a member of the syndicate, also at Kwame Nkrumah Circle on January 24.
He had invited his victims to Accra from Bolgatanga and other parts of the country to report for medicals at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, said the prosecution.
He said the purported medical was supposed to be done on January, 26 on the instructions of Ayisha and Awuni.
He said in his caution statement that the accused person admitted collecting money from 70 people and paying it to Ayisha and Awuni.
He said on February 27, Abasa, who upon his arrest at Tesano, was identified as Alifa, during investigation, admitted having connived with Awuni to produce the fake enlistment forms and also to being a beneficiary of the proceeds from the deal.
He said on February 28, Alifa was granted police inquiry bail to report on March 3 but he jumped bail until he saw his photograph being published on the front page of the newspapers before and reported himself with his lawyer.
On March 13, Awuni, who had been on the police wanted list since December 2014 was arrested, when he was lured by one of his agents to go and collect money.
Source: GNA