Two men who posed as military officers and allegedly harassed and extorted money from some illegal miners operating at Esuaso, in the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality, have been arrested by the police.

One of the suspects, Isaac Jackson, 21, claims he is a Naval Officer stationed at Sekondi and the other Isaac Kojo Biney, 28, is an employee of Traffic Tech, a private security firm.

They were arrested last Thursday dressed in military uniforms. Assistance Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Ayitey, Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, said in the morning of August 8, the police had a tip-off from Esuaso that some people were posing as military officers and were harassing and extorting money from illegal miners in the neighborhood.

He said upon hearing the information a team of police officers were dispatched to the scene and on arrival Isaac Kojo Biney, who had been detained by the mob and was about to be lynched, was rescued and sent to the police station.

The Divisional Commander said the second suspect Isaac Jackson, who managed to escape anger of the town folks, was apprehended at Benso through the collaborative effort of the assembly members for Benso and Esuaso Electoral Areas.

ACP Ayitey said when a search was conducted on the suspects the police retrieved a jack knife, GH?120 and a Takoradi Technical Institute cadet identity card.

He said the suspects have been placed in police custody pending further investigations.

ACP Ayitey said they will be processed for the court as soon as investigations are completed.