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The Ghana Police Service has refuted claims that the editor-in-chief of the online portal Whatsup News was arrested at gunpoint.
DSP Juliana Obeng, head of Public Affairs for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), in a statement on Friday, confirmed the arrest of David Tamakloe.
He said the department arrested the journalist on Thursday, April 1.
This comes after reports that he has been arrested by some unidentified security agents, supposedly from Homeland Security.
“The suspect was arrested for alleged crimes of intent to commit a crime, namely: extortion contrary to article 18 (1) and 151 (1) and the publication of false news contrary to article 208 of the Criminal Offenses Act of 1960 ( Law 29) ”, said DSP Obeng.
On Friday morning, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, a member of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, condemned what he describes as the “Rambo-style arrest” of Mr. Tamakloe.
The South Dayi deputy called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to order that the journalist “be admitted on bail for police investigation to be able to meet with his family at Easter.”
He added: “If any prima facie determination is made after the Easter holidays, he may be duly prosecuted in court to take the necessary steps to defend himself in the matter.”
In a statement hours later, the police said: “The suspect after being warned has been released on bail of police investigation with a bond to report on Tuesday, April 6, to take additional measures.”
However, DSP Juliana Obeng added, “the CID denies any accusation of arresting the suspect at gunpoint.”
According to reports, Mr. Tamakloe was similarly arrested a couple of months ago without justification.
