NPP organiser to sue police boss

The Effia-Kwesimintsim constituency organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Jerry Hanson has served notice of his intention to bring contempt charges against the Kwesiminstim District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Magnus Reindorf Sam.

He has accused the Commander and his men of continuously harassing him, in spite of an earlier court restriction.

This was contained in a statement issued by his Counsel, Mr. Seth Awuku in which he also threatened to report the conduct of the officer to the Police Administration and the Police Intelligence and Professional Service (PIPS).

In a letter dated June 23, Mr Awuku wrote "we are serving notice accordingly of the rights of our client, Jerry Hanson and to give notice of our intention to bring a contempt application against you as it relates to the constitutional rights of our client."

He related that on Saturday June 21, 2008, at about 9:45am, one officer Denu, under the instructions of ASP Sam, attempted to unlawfully arrest his client.

Counsel for Hanson expressed surprise that the Police could go to the extent of attempting to arrest his client after a bench warrant had been revoked, adding, "we are surprised that the police are unaware of happenings in the court in respect of this matter."

For this reason, he said "we take the conduct of attempting to arrest our client contrary to the orders of the Court as supercilious, pompous and portentous, and we will vigorously raise this matter at the next adjourned date before his Worship and equally report it to PIPS."

Counsel took exception to the conduct of the Commander, saying, "we protest with the greatest vitriol and spleen."

He further emphasised that "it is our fervent and learned opinion that the prosecution and the police must attend Court and be abreast with what is happening in the Court and cease the heart-beating habit of making unconstitutional and unsanctioned arrest in our Republic."

When the paper contacted him for his side of the story, the District Commander asked, “don't you know that sometimes my men can go out to make arrest without my knowledge?”

He, however, confirmed having asked his men to effect Hanson's arrest, following the issuance of a bench warrant.

Asked whether he was aware the bench warrant on which the police was acting had been revoked, ASP Sam said "it is the duty of the Court to communicate to me that the bench warrant had been reversed, if not what do you want me to do, if the Court has not officially informed me, I have to enforce it."