Drivers frown over Police officers harassment

Business

Commercial drivers plying up country, especially to Port Loko and Kambia districts have expressed concern over the way and manner Police Officers (traffic division and Operational Support Division OSD) harass them for money. According, to Alimamy Turay who runs a three sitter car to Port Loko he explained that he pays Le 20,000 at the Texaco Parking ground to the Drivers Union before leaving for his destination. This amount he said is compulsory and must be paid before leaving the park. He continued that at Calaba town, Kay Step he pays Le 15,000 to Police Officers. He said that amount is compulsory for the day whether the car has fault or not, adding that at Foamex again, he pays Le 2,000 to Police Officers with or without fault of their vehicles. The driver reiterated that at Waterloo, Post Office, he pays Le 15,000 to Police Officers for out of Police station settlement whether the vehicle has fault or not or he will have to pay Le30,000 if he is taken to the station. At Mokolor checkpoint he pays Le 7,000, at Mile 38 he pays another Le 7,000. He noted that the Le 7,000 at Mile 38 is shared among OSD and Traffic Police officers. Le 2,000 for the OSD and Le 5,000 goes to Traffic Police. Alimammy Turay reiterated that he charges Le 22,000 per person and his car takes ten passengers, adding that he uses nine gallons to and from Kambia and pays Le 100,000 as master money to the owner of the car. He stated that at the Kambia parking ground he pays Le 20,000. He continued that if a driver fails to pay all this money at each checkpoint, there vehicles will be seized and will not be allowed to move until they fulfill their obligations. The Driver disclosed that whether you are smuggling arms or moving with armed robbers as long as you pay those monies your car will not be searched, but if you refuse your vehicle will be searched and whether your vehicle has fault or not, Police will charge you to Court. He said that the rate of highway armed robbery has increased because Police officers fail to search vehicles when monies have been paid to them. He maintained that with all these monies paid, what is left for them is nothing good to take home. With all these monies pay and the number of vehicles plying the road everyday one will ask the amount of money the police collects per day and if this money is going to the government revenue fund. What this Reporter discovered is the illegal checkpoints mounted by Police along the highway. It could be recalled that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Report listed the Police as the most corrupt institutions in the country.

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