Accra, June 7, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday remanded into prison custody four Policemen accused of extorting money from two persons, who were alleged to be in possession a quantity of cocaine. Detective Sergeant Stanley Gbeglo and Karimu Osuman, Ebenezer Ogbordjo and J.K. Mensah, all Lance Corporals, are alleged to have extorted 18,000 dollars, 600 pounds and three million cedis from the people.

Also remanded were Derrick Osei Owusu, a soldier with the British Army and Leonard Benafo, a Student, from whom the money was extorted for allegedly having in their possession the narcotic drugs. The two are charged for illegal possession of narcotic drugs and were remanded in prison custody.

They have all pleaded not guilty.

When the case was called the Prosecution informed the Court that the Police had not completed their investigations and, therefore, need more time.

The Prosecution further told the Court it had contacted the International Police (INTERPOL) to arrest Mark Lardi, believed to be the sender of the consignment, in the United Kingdom. The Court granted the request of the Prosecution and ordered Owusu and Benafo to deposit their passports with the Courts' registry. They are to reappear on June 14.

The case as presented by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Abichab Boye was that at about 1400 hours on May 27, the Regional Criminal Investigation Department, Accra, had information that the four Policemen had arrested Owusu and Benafo at Papillon Hotel at Laterbiokoshie in Accra with a quantity of cocaine and were demanding 60,000 dollars from them to drop the case.

The Prosecution said a team of Policemen trailed the accused persons to Glens Discotheque at Adabraka and met Owusu and Benafo in handcuff with Corporals Gbeglo and Osuman standing by them. The Prosecution said Ogbordjo and Mensah absconded when they saw the team of Policemen.

The rest of the accused persons were escorted to the Deputy Regional Police Commander's Office. During a search, a polythene bag containing 163 thumb-sized wrappers of a substance believed to be cocaine, 18,000 dollars, 600 pounds and three million cedis were found on Gbeglo. In an interrogation, Owusu claimed ownership of the cocaine and mentioned that the four Policemen after arresting them, demanded 60,000 dollars but they were able to raise 18,000 dollars, 600 pounds and three million cedis.