7 months after he was shot in a bank by a policeman, sales agent still awaits justice


The sales agent who was shot in the banking hall of Cal Bank on the High Street in Accra by a police officer after an altercation, says he is still seeking justice seven months after the incident.  

Corporal Bernard Frimpong on March 8, 2014 confronted Nathaniel Nortey to move his car from where he parked because a bank staff had claimed he (Bernard) did not have any business there.

The 31-year-old marketing officer then went back to the bank to show a receipt of a transaction he made but things turned violent when the officer hit him in the face, receiving a slap back.  

Provoked by the retaliation, the police officer cocked his AK47 rifle and started shooting haphazardly hitting the victim in the leg and also injuring another customer in the abdomen and ankle. The police initially said branded the victim as a suspected armed robber who had entered the banking hall of Cal Bank on the High Street of Accra.

The police initially branded the victim as a suspected armed robber who had entered the banking hall of Cal Bank on the High Street of Accra.

However, that claim changed subsequently, when the police watched a recording of the entire incident on CCTV footage which apparently corroborates the case of Nortey.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM Thursday, September 25, 2014, Nathaniel said he lost his job following the police’s claim that he was an armed robber.

“Imagine [if] you were my client and I came to you [with the story you heard about me], certainly you are not going to do business with me,” he told host, Kojo Yankson.

Nathaniel still has bullet fragments stuck in his leg because doctors say he could end up being paralysed if they tried to remove them.

Worried at the situation, Nathaniel’s “fiancé” Afua Dentaa initiated the #I speak for just campaign on social media. Nathaniel has also filed a suit against the Ghana Police Service for the unprofessional conduct of the officer.

Action
For now, the Police Administration has initiated disciplinary action against Cprl. Frimpong, according to Director of Public Affairs at the Police Headquarters, DSP Cephas Arthur.

DSP Arthur said Corporal Bernard Frimpong is being taken through some internal service inquiry because, “there are certain misconducts which bothers on criminality”.

“A docket has been forwarded to the AG concerning the criminal aspect of his behaviour,” the senior police officer indicated.

He stated further: “The action by the officer is considered…as very, very reprehensible”.

“A lot of things are being done…and we are still going to pursue the case until justice is served,” he assured. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Jerry Tsatro Mordy | [email protected]

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