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A UK Metropolitan Police officer, PC Bright Shine-Sedziafa, has been dismissed for attempting to smuggle a Ghanaian child into the UK despite knowing the child’s mother faced extradition on serious fraud charges. Serving in the West Area Command Unit, PC Shine-Sedziafa was found guilty of gross misconduct during a police hearing that revealed his involvement in falsifying border documents and coordinating the child’s entry into the country.
The investigation found that Shine-Sedziafa met the child’s mother, Mrs. C, in late 2022 and soon after traveled to Ghana, finalizing plans to bring the child to the UK. Although he denied knowing of Mrs. C’s legal troubles or receiving compensation, records indicated he had arranged the child’s travel and signed documents. WhatsApp messages and financial transactions, including payments of £800 and 1,300 Ghanaian cedis, further implicated him.
The child left Ghana on December 20, 2022, accompanied by her grandmother, uncle, and another individual, entering the UK through Amsterdam. Upon arrival, immigration officers, noting discrepancies in documentation, questioned Shine-Sedziafa and his wife, Ms. Confidence Haugen, who had come to receive the child. Officers raised concerns regarding Mrs. C’s extradition status, and Shine-Sedziafa was detained after inconsistencies surfaced in his statements.
In his defense, Shine-Sedziafa claimed ignorance of Mrs. C’s extradition but later evidence contradicted this. The misconduct panel concluded he was aware of her legal issues and had even falsely stated in an April 2023 witness statement that he was unaware of her electronic monitoring tag.
