Paintsil did not assault cop – Sister

Former Ghanaian international John Paintsil did not assault any police officer, but was detained because he failed to drive an alleged stolen car to the police station, sister of the former Black Stars right back, Tina, has revealed.

The footballer is alleged to have punched DSP Basintale of the East Legon Police Station in the face during interrogation after his wife had reported him to the police on Tuesday May 24 for allegedly stealing her car.

Speaking on Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM Thursday May 26, Ms Paintsil said the alleged stolen car belonged to his brother.

“All the cars in the house belong to John Paintsil. The police officer interrogating him said John should have reported to the station with the car, and for not bringing the car, he would not be allowed to leave the station. So, he was asked to call someone to bring the car before he would be allowed to leave,” she told host Chief Jerry Forson on the programme.

She further narrated that John went to the station with the documents of the alleged stolen car bearing his name and signature as owner of the car. According to her, Richlove Paintsil, his brother’s wife, also reported to the station with a fake document on the car bearing the footballer’s forged signature.

“John handed over the document to the police officers and decided to leave and come back with the car the next day, but the officer held his shirt to prevent him from leaving. John only pulled himself free; he did not assault the officer, and he was detained by the police because he did not report to the station with the car,” she said.

Ms Paintsil also alleged that her sister-in-law had a relationship with the police commander prior to reporting the case of the stolen car because when she took John Paintsil’s children to visit him in custody, the children referred to the police commander as their second daddy who often bought them ice cream and gave them money.

Ms Paintsil insisted that the alleged stolen car belonged to her brother.

“The said car belongs to my brother. He bought it with his own money on his birthday and that is not the only car he has. He had a white Infinity; the wife hid the car and told the husband the car was missing. She only returned the car after John had reported the car missing. She sold the car later, after her husband had left the country,” she said.

John Paintsil is to be arraigned before court today Thursday May 26.

Afia Tenge, PRO of the Accra Regional Police Command said Paintsil will be charged with “stealing, causing harm, assault, and offensive conduct on a police officer”.