The Tema Regional police are holding an informant who gave false information leading to the arrest of innocent citizens in a police armed robbery hunt. The informant, whose name has been withheld by the police, has been charged for deceit of a public officer, whilst the three persons he framed up in the robbery story have been released on police enquiry bail. One of the victims, Mr Jacob Anane told Peace FM on Thursday that he had visited his land at Asebi near Dodowa in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region with three siblings, and were returning when a police patrol team accosted and arrested them at Dodowa for allegedly plotting to rob. Narrating his harrowing experience in the hands of the police, Mr Anane claimed he received severe beatings and sustained cuts and a swollen face with pains all over his body. The man who was on a sojourn from America asserted that immediately after their arrest, the police paraded them in front of media cameras for alleged robbery without their statement being taken. Police Chief Inspector Olivia Turkson, Tema Police Public Relations Officer, conceded that the police were misinformed into arresting the four men, but could not deny or confirm that the men were beaten. Narrating the unfortunate incident on Peace FM, Chief Insp. Turkson said on March 11, 2011, the police had information about an intended robbery operation. The informant gave information about the persons involved, the number of their vehicle and their route. She said being keen on clamping down on armed robbery in the country, the police did not hesitate to dispatch the police highway patrol team to track the supposed robbers. She said the people were apprehended and a search on them produced “a pump action gun with live ammunition” and a knife. She said the gun was registered in the name of Mr Jacob Anane, which “alarmed” the police something could be amiss. This, she said, prompted them to institute extensive investigations into the case. Chief Insp. Turkson said police investigations revealed that their informant had a longstanding land conflict with Mr Anane’s landlord, and chose to misinform the police to settle his personal scores. She said the police were still investigating the issue. Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com