The Akim Oda Divisional Police Commander in the Eastern region has come under fire for ordering his officers to free three suspects arrested for allegedly dealing in cocaine.

Chief Superintendent Ebenezer Ampofo instructed his men to release the three even though they had confessed to the crime.

Checks by JOYNEWS show the commander also ordered his subordinates to destroy evidence in the case because the suspects were his friends.

On February 1, Abu Isahaku, a police corporal in Akim Oda, arrested Kwabena Boakye with 55 wrappers of a substance believed to be cocaine.

Boakye mentioned one Mr. Henaku and Paa Kwesi as his suppliers after offering Isahaku a bribe of ¢1,000 to drop the case which the police officer rejected and arrested him.

JOYNEWS sources say the suspect confessed to the crime in the presence of an independent witness after which his suppliers were also arrested.

The case was then referred to one Inspector Nuako for further investigation. Upon hearing about the case, the Akim Oda Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Ebenezer Ampofo allegedly asked the two corporals to destroy the evidence and drop the case because the suspects were his friends.

When the two corporals refused, he allegedly asked the Station Officer to prepare a docket with is instruction on the content.

Even though the suspects confessed to the crime, the new docket indicated that the suspects were nowhere near the crime scene. The court for lack of evidence to prosecute them subsequently freed the suspects.

JOYNEWS sources say officer Isahaku reported the case to the regional police command. 

JOYNEWS could not contact Chief Inspector Ebenezer Ampofo for his side of the story because he could not be reached.

This notwithstanding, Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP James Azumah Abbas Abaa confirmed to JOYNEWS that his office has received reports about the matter and investigations are ongoing.

ACP Abaa said a number of steps have been taken to start the investigation.

“We have referred the report to the regional crime officer to investigate and the Inspector General of Police has also been informed about the report and the allegation because these are serious allegations.”

Officer Ampofo has also been served with a query to tell authorities what he knows about the case.

Checks at the Police Headquarters reveal that officer Ampofo has since the allegations were made, been interdicted so he does not interfere with investigations.