COP Patrick Timbilla’s bank account frozen

The Police Administration has ordered the bank accounts of COP Patrick Timbilla to be frozen until investigations into his alleged involvement in the police recruitment scam is completed.

Reports indicate Timbilla  allegedly has about GHC1 million in two private accounts.

The Minister of Interior, Mark Woyongo revealed this to Joy News after a meeting with the Police Council.

A special investigations team is also investigating the scam involving about 200 Ghanaians seeking to get into the service.

Though Mark Woyongo did not dismiss the alternative of using an independent committee, he said it is proper to give the current investigation team a chance to conclude its work.

If “we are not satisfied with the [report], the [Police council] will take the next step”, Mark Woyongo said.

COP Timbilla was interdicted and put under house arrest last Friday after some victims reportedly linked him to the recruitment scam.

He was however released on Saturday and is still assisting the Police with investigations.

There have been calls for the Police administration to involve other stakeholders in ongoing investigations since news of Timbilla’s involvement in the scam broke.

Shock

Meanwhile Mr Mark Woyongo has expressed shock at the alleged involvement of  Timbilla, in the scam.

“I am not only surprised I’m shocked. If it is true, I will be shocked because I thought his rank is such that I don’t expect him to go down to that level. I want to believe that it is not true.”

Speaking on Radio Ghana on Sunday, Mr. Woyongo said government is keenly following the development and will support any recommendation from the Police service.

When asked whether there was the need to set an independent body to investigate the issue, the Interior Minister said his “ministry has no objection to any independent investigation but I am convinced that the police are capable of investigating this.”

He explained that “after their investigation or after their report, if we are not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation we can still ask for an independent organization to investigate this issue. That is why we are thinking of the establishment of an independent police commission. If independent commission was in place it would have investigated this issue.”

By: Marian Efe Ansah