Suhum, Nov. 27, GNA - The youths of Dokrochiwa and Coaltar in the Suhum-Kraboa Coaltar District, have threatened to demonstrate against the police for extorting huge sums of money from suspects before granting them bail.

Spokespersons for the youth, Mr Kofi Darko and Edward Okyere, all victims, told the Ghana News Agency that the police at Coaltar often extort between GHC 50 and GHC 80 from suspects before granting them bail. They alleged that suspects who could not afford to pay were quickly arraigned before court and then prevailed on by the Magistrate to remand them in custody with the explanation that the police had not finished with their investigations.

They said minor cases, which could be withdrawn from the police station and settled at homes were more often than not sent to the courts. They contended that the behaviour of the police at Coaltar was destroying the image of the Ghana Police Service.