Jonathan Bawa
A man whose GH¢150,000 (¢1.5 billion) consignment of goods was intercepted and disposed of by nine suspected criminals in Kumasi is accusing the Police Administration of virtually aiding the suspects to escape justice.
The petitioner, Jonathan Bawa, who used to operate Joebawa Transport Services, singled out an investigator called Inspector Ben Soglo of the Greater Accra Regional Command as the officer who had allegedly allowed the suspects to continuously skip court sittings, saying, 'He has frustrated me since this case was handed over to him.'
Narrating his ordeal to DAILY GUIDE last Friday, Mr Bawa said the case involved nine persons who stole his DAF truck load of goods he was carrying on behalf of Olam Ghana Limited for distribution in Kumasi, Tamale and Bolgatanga on November 29, 2011 but never got justice due to the attitude of the police.
He said the suspects included Isaac Acquah, student; Jonathan Gidisu, driver; David Abbey, aka Abiola, businessman; Dan Kofi Micko and one Alidu both at large as well as Winston Agyena-Karikari, Sampson Darko, businessman, Abena Serwaa and Milicent Duku, both traders.
He said initially when the suspects were arrested, the investigator allegedly demanded GH¢5,000 from him but because he could not afford that amount, it took about six months for the case to go to court and it was even after PIPS had intervened.
'When they were arrested, Inspector Soglo called me and said the suspects were saying the cost of the goods was high and that they were ready to pay the money it the cost was scaled down but I could not take it,' he said.
He disclosed that after the suspects were granted bail, they attended court sittings the way they 'liked' and it continued for about a year, adding, 'Anytime I enquired from the investigator, he threw tantrums and told me I could not teach him how to do his job but clearly I saw that I was being shortchanged.'
'The accused persons were granted bail; a whole year elapsed without the case being called in court. When the court finally issued a bench warrant for the arrests of the accused persons, the investigator refused to enforce the order.'
Mr Bawa said in spite of petitions to the IGP as well as the CID, the investigator has put the case in limbo and the suspects are walking free.
'I have lost everything as a result of this case and all my kids have stopped going to school because I cannot even pay their fees. I really need help.'
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