Three Cops jailed 75 yrs - For aiding escape of Limping Man

FOR aiding a fugitive, Sheriff Asem Dakeh, alias The Limping Man, to flee with 2,280 kilogrammes of cocaine, three policemen were yesterday sentenced to a total of 75 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Accra Fast Track High Court.
Sergeant David Nyarko, Detective Corporal Dwamena Yabson and General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin, were sentenced to serve 25 years imprisonment each after the court found them guilty of receiving an unspecified amount in US dollars from Dakeh and subsequently allowing him to flee.
They were convicted on two counts of extortion and corruption by a public officer after the court held that the prosecution had led evidence beyond reasonable doubt to prove their guilt.
A third accused person, Detective Sergeant Samuel Yaw Amoah, who was said to have collected the money from Sheriff and in turn shared it with the convicts and some fishermen and is currently on the run, was described by the presiding judge “as a disgrace to the police service.”
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Annin Yeboah, a Court of Appeal Judge, with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, held that “Amoah escaped as a result of the negligence of the police. The image of the police has been tarnished and it is unfortunate the police allowed him to escape.”
Turning to the three convicts, Mr Justice Yeboah said “inferences drawn and the conduct of the accused persons proved that they had taken money from Sheriff and allowed him to abscond.”
For instance, the court held that one of the prosecution witnesses, a fisherman, identified the convicts as the police officers who went to the Kpone Beach on April 26, 2006, took money from Sheriff and allowed him to abscond.
The court said the fisherman candidly stated during the trial that Sgt. Amoah gave him (fisherman whose name has been withheld) $10,000 to share with his other colleague fishermen who had seen the policemen aid Sheriff to load cartons of cocaine into a waiting vehicle.
It pointed out that no evidence was led by the defence to discredit the fisherman who was once described by the defence as a “star witness” and who was very truthful and credible in his evidence which was heard in camera.
It said it was unfortunate the police officers allowed Sheriff to abscond without at least inviting him to the police station for interrogation.
The court, accordingly, rejected the denial of the convicts and further held that there was overwhelming evidence which pointed to the fact that the convicts were guilty of charges levelled against them, adding that “the accused persons were not truthful and I reject their story.”
It said the convicts took money to compromise their office, adding that they did not lead evidence to raise any doubt on evidence led against them.
Citing authorities to buttress the court’s decision, the court said it was unacceptable and unfortunate for the convicts to allow “a harmless, disabled and limping man”, to escape with such large quantities of cocaine.
Before their conviction, counsel for the convicts prayed the court to deal leniently with them since they were first offenders but the court said their action had dragged the name of the police service in the mud and he would accordingly give them a deterrent sentence to send strong signal to police officers to act professionally.
Family and friends of the convicts became visibly shocked and wailed uncontrollably as the convicts were led into waiting vehicles to begin serving their sentence.