IGP & Interpol Head Snub Court Order .... with explanation

The Crusading Guide says President Kufuor and his Government’s much touted commitment to “due process of law” is under serious threat as the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Accra Interpol Boss have treated with contempt an Accra High Court order.

The order for prohibition is for the IGP, Ernest Owusu Poku and Superintendent Opare-Addo, Head of Interpol to return a Mercedes Benz Car C240 to its owners - Jobesh Car Hiring Company.

According to the paper, the car, registered as GR 298 S, was seized on the orders of Opare-Addo on the 27th of April 2001 on the pretext that it was stolen and brought down from Nigeria, and that the owners were in Ghana to retrieve it.

The High Court Order dated 18th July 2001, said the IGP and Opare-Addo, the first and second respondents respectively, were to release immediately, the Mercedes Benz vehicle to Jobesh Car Rentals without further delay.

The Circuit Tribunal to which the owner of Jobesh Car Rentals, Ekow Baisie had been hauled to answer a charge of receiving a stolen good had also been asked to cease forthwith any further hearing of the case so that the matter deemed as a civil matter could be heard in a Circuit Court.

The prohibition order also maintained that if the IGP and Superintendent Opare-addo felt the said vehicle belonged to someone else other than Ekow Baisie Haizel “who possesses all the valid documents on same, they should respond to the writ of summons that was served on them from the Circuit court, Accra for that issue to be determined”.

When the Crusading Guide talked to Baisie Haizel on the matter, he said he was forced to file a motion on Notice for an order for Prohibition when he declined to write a statement relinquishing the ownership of the Car as directed by Opare-Addo.

Haiziel said Opare-Addo became annoyed when he (Haizel) refused to disown the car.

Interpol Boss Attempts To Explain Why Mercedes-Benz Car Has Not Been Returned To Owner.

The Head of Interpol at the Ghana Police Service, Superintendant Opare-Addo has issued a statement that has failed to address questions being asked about his handling of an impounded vehicle allegedly stolen and sold to a Ghanaian businessman.

He has been criticized and even cited as possibly standing in contempt of court for refusing to comply with the court’s order to release the car to the Managing Director of Jobesh Car Rental, Ekow Haizel.

Superintendent Opare Addo, in a statement, said Interpol in collaboration with its foreign counterparts has uncovered a syndicate operating in stolen cars in the country. He warned that Interpol would ensure that all cars that reach Ghana through wrongful means are thoroughly investigated and the appropriate action taken.

Superintendent Opare Addo claimed investigations had traced two of such cars, a Mercedes Benz C 240 and a Mitsubishi Pajero, stolen from Lagos and Belgium to the garage of Jobesh Car Rental. He added that Ekow Haizel is being investigated allegedly as part of a syndicate that deal in stolen cars.

Meanwhile, the Police Administration has asked the Attorney-General’s Department to move a higher court to set aside the order given by the High Court over the impounded vehicle. This, the Police believes will allow the matter to proceed to a respectable conclusion.

A statement signed by the Director of Police Public Relations, Superintendent A. Awuni, coming only after JOY-FM had criticised the police on the way it is handling the case, said the Attorney General's order is required especially when the case in question is a criminal one.

The police hierarchy says it has in conjunction with the Attorney General’s Department taken steps to set aside the order for and release of the Mercedes Benz car by the High Court. It explained that this had arisen because if the order is allowed to stay, it will amount to the miscarriage of justice.