PETER K. OKUDZETO & ANOTHER AND CUSTOMS, EXCISE & PREVENTIVE SERVICE [1998]DLCHRAJ5722

Date	1998-01-13
Suit No.	Our Ref: CHRAJ/538/96/88
Citation No.	[1998]DLCHRAJ5722

BENJAMIN K. OPPONG

[1998]DLCHRAJ5722
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B050">PETER K. OKUDZETO &amp;
ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>(PETITIONER)<o:p></o:p>AND<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B050">CUSTOMS, EXCISE &amp;
PREVENTIVE SERVICE <o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">(CHRAJ)<o:p></o:p>

Our
Ref: CHRAJ/538/96/88&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE:&nbsp; 13/01/1998<o:p></o:p>

</div>commissioner:<o:p></o:p>BENJAMIN
K. OPPONG DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (LEGAL/OPERATIONS)<o:p></o:p>FOR COMMISSIONER<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DECISION<o:p></o:p>

</div>The petitioners' petition is that they were dismissed by a letter
dated 24th May, 1996 on the grounds that:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:54.75pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-32.25pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
investigation reports showed
that they had extorted $1.5 million from an importer to assist him under-value
goods cleared at Tema Harbour; and<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:54.75pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-32.25pt;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;a "macro" cassette produced as
evidence had recorded the bargaining process between the petitioners and the
importer.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:50.25pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The circumstances leading to the petitioners' termination are that
somewhere in April, 1996 a certain Mr. Adjepong, an importer came to clear his
goods, but upon examination of his container, it was discovered that he had
seriously under declared his consignment. The importer then discussed with them
the possibility of smuggling the excess goods out of the harbour since it was a
normal practice to him. The petitioners informed the Chief Collector, Out Door
(CCOD) and the Assistant Commissioner (AC) in charge of Tema about what
transpired. The 2 superior officers asked the petitioners to encourage the
importer to talk about his modus operandi and not to do anything to scare him.<o:p></o:p>In the process of gathering this information, they feigned
interest to enable the importer volunteer more information. The importer
promised them financial &nbsp;reward if they
would assist him. The importer disclosed his modus operandi including the names
of fictitious companies he uses as a facade to split his consignments of
imports and thereby, avoid pre-shipment inspection.<o:p></o:p>Notwithstanding all the discussions that went on between them and
the importer, they revalued the goods in accordance with the actual quantities
and the appropriate duties were levied. They did not receive any money from the
importer because they did not do what he expected them to do.<o:p></o:p>Not satisfied with the duties levied, the importer petitioned CEPS
Headquarters claiming that the goods he imported were seconds. He in addition
submitted what was supposed to be an exhibit of the seconds. A letter signed
for the Commissioner dated 3r</main>