Military Policeman Arrested By Police … For Embarking On Illegal Ejection

… But Crime Office Dilly-Dallying With Case
From Alfred Adams, Takoradi
THE Western Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has taken over the criminal case involving a Military Police Officer, Corporal Dampson and five civilians, who have been accused of trying to forcibly eject a Shareholder of SeaWorld Engineering Company Limited, Mr. Gideon Kwame Ahoto from his residence without recourse to law. 

The Military-Police Officer, together with the five civilians, on the June 17, this year, reportedly went to the residence of the SeaWorld shareholder cum Board Member and attempted to eject him forcibly from his residence.

The conduct of the Military man came on the heels of a fracas Mr. Gideon Kwame Ahoto had with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company, Mr. Alfred Fafali Adagbedu.

But for the timely intervention of the Takoradi Central Police Command, the SeaWorld shareholder cum Board Member would have been ejected forcibly from his residence.

The Takoradi Police subsequently arrested the Military Police Officer who led the attack and the other five accomplices and detained them.

The accused have since been granted bail after they mentioned the CEO of SeaWorld as the one who ordered them to eject Gideon Kwame Ahoto from the residence. The statement of the CEO has also been taken by the Police.

Though the Regional Police Command has taken over the case from the Takoradi Central Police Command where the case was first reported, they seem to be dilly dallying with the case.

The Regional Police Crime Officer, Mr. Reuben Asoko, though confirmed that his outfit had taken over the case, saying “the case had not gathered much water.”

The complainant in the case, Gideon Kwame Ahoto is, however, suspecting foul play. According to him, he was issued an ejection notice by the CEO of SeaWorld to quit the residence he was staying, following a fracas shareholders of the company, including himself, had had with him, over the running of the company.

A copy of the ejection notice he showed to this reporter, dated May 6, 2016, under the headline: 'RE-Notice To Quit Plot 186 Chapel Hill, Takoradi' reads: 'I hereby give you notice to vacate my property within 4 weeks of the date of this letter as I intend to use the property myself.'

Another reminder to the earlier ejection notice was dated June 16, 2016, under the headline: RE-Occupancy of Plot 186 Chapel Hill, Takoradi'. This letter also reads: 'I hereby give you notice to prepare my property stated above for my occupancy. Please treat this as urgent'.

Continuing, Gideon Ahoto said on June 17, 2016, a day after receiving the CEO's reminder letter, the Military Police Officer and the five other accomplices stormed his premises, forcibly entered his room and began removing the louver blades and the roofing.

The complainant said he told the suspects that the issue of the residence was a subject of court litigation at a High Court so he would not give in to their demands and subsequently alerted the Takoradi Police Command who came to arrest the suspects.

He added that the suspects, led by the Military-Police officer, upon interrogation by the Police mentioned the CEO of SeaWorld as the one who sent them to eject him.

The CEO is reported to have written his statement in the case leading to the granting of bail to the accomplices.

The Regional Crime Officer who spoke to this reporter in his office was not coming forth with information. He however confirmed that he had interrogated the SeaWorld CEO and he did not see the case as criminal.

However, he believes the case should be channeled to Rent Control since it has to do with rental issue.