Accra Sept 9, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced a 21-year- old trader to five years' imprisonment with hard for forging the Ghana Police Service Identity card and parading as a Detective Sergeant of the Service. David Asante is said to have used his fake ID card to collect monies from individuals including a Pastor at Amanfrom, near Kasoa.

Asante pleaded guilty to forging and uttering of official document, falsely pretending to be a public officer but denied a stealing charge preferred against him.

When the court chaired by Mr Willy Wise Kyeremeh demanded his explanation, accused said his girlfriend had threatened to jilt him and he decided to pretend to be Police personnel in order to arrest his rival.

Sentencing him, the Judge stated that he did not believe his explanation since he might have indulged in the crime for a long period. "The offence preferred against Asante was grievous, he said, adding that he believed in his desperate attempt to get away with the crime decided to cook that story."

The Court further ordered that the identity card and a knife found on Asante be destroyed in the presence of court officials.

The facts presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Joseph K. Abraham are that in August, information reached the Police that there was an armed robber with a pistol parading at Kasoa and its environs with the Criminal Investigation Department ID card.

The Police, therefore, detailed some personnel to track down Asante. Prosecution said on September 6, Detectives from the Anti-Armed Robbery Squad arrested Asante at his hideout in his girlfriend's house at Ngelshie, Amanfrom.

A sharp knife and an ID card of the Ghana Police Service with serial number E-241 were retrieved from him. Prosecution said the Police also traced the source of his ID card to Depage Photo Studio and Commercial Centre at Kaneshie.