Mobila murder trail to begin
Gilbert Boyefio
24/04/2007
By Richard Ofori-Atta & Sam Osei.
The Statesman can exclusively reveal that the trial of the alleged murderers of Issah Mobila, who lost his live while under military custody in December 2004, will begin within the next two weeks.
The alleged torture and killing of the then regional chairman of the Convention People's Party, and what seemed to be the apparent reluctance on the part of the state to bring the culprits to book had become a serious embarrassment for a government, which is noted for its human rights record.
Barely a week after the December 2004 elections, the NDC held a press conference and catalogued alleged attacks against NDC
Supporters (including Alhaji Mobila) in Dagbon and the opposition have since accused Government of denying the late Alhaji Mobila justice.
Yet there were other victims of violence who were also awaiting justice. Three NPP activists were also murdered. The case against their alleged killers is also ready for prosecution, The Statesman can report.
But, even before the trial of Alhaji Mobila"s killers begin, The Statesman can report that another alleged murder in custody has occurred; this time in Kumasi.
Collins Okyere, also known as Nana Kwame Sarpong, 35, died on Saturday after he was allegedly repeatedly tortured by officers of the Striking Force Unit. Nana Kwame Sarpong was a trotro driver from Anomanye, Suame, Kumasi. He was arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of robbery when the police apprehended a stolen taxi he was passenger in.
According to the murdered man?s mother, Theresa Manu, her son was beaten to confess even though the driver of the stolen vehicle had told the police that Nana Kwame was innocent and should therefore be set free.
But the police are refuting Madam Manu?s story. According to the Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Ashanti Region, Mohammed Tanko, the deceased was part of a car-jacking gang that was arrested by the Striking Force. He told The Statesman that Nana Kwame was identified with a gang suspected to have stolen several vehicles in Kumasi. The police, he said, have "witnesses to testify to their crime.?
Narrating her story to our correspondence, the grieving mother of the deceased said her son was at home with her at Suame last Wednesday morning when colleague driver of his late son, drove to the house in a taxi, accompanied by his girlfriend. His son joined them to Magazine to apparently undertake repair work on the vehicle.
She said on reaching the Suame Magazine, the taxi was surrounded by armed officers from the Striking Force Unit. She said they were arrested on charges of the stolen vehicle and taken to the police station where they were placed at counter-back for questioning.
Madam Manu said she was informed by someone about her son?s arrest so she rushed to the police station where she saw her son and the others behind bars.
According to the mother, the driver confessed to the police but added that her son, Nana Kwame, knew nothing about it, pleading with the police for Nana Kwame?s release.
Madam Manu told this paper of the numerous times her son was allegedly tortured. ?I was outside when other people who had come to the police station to visit their relatives screamed that my son had collapsed and was dying. When I went closer to the counter I saw him lying there with the police looking on unconcerned. They rather complained that he was epileptic; something I know not to be true! I went straight to my son and fed him with water to revive him,? she narrated.
Within seconds of reviving her son, one police officer allegedly started hitting him again demanding a confession.
On the third day, she alleged her son was again beaten mercilessly for pouring water on the floor of the station.
Madam Manu said the following day she sent her children to go and give their brother food only for them to rush back that their brother was no where to be found as no one was willing to tell them his whereabouts.
It later transpired that the body had been deposited at the mortuary, where our correspondent and colleagues managed to sneak in and took snaps of the body. The police were later on confronted with the gruesome photographs, which showed how Nana Kwame was beaten to pulp.
While maintaining there was evidence implicating the deceased in crime, Mr Tanko, conceded that law enforcement agents cannot subject suspects in their custody to torture. The police administration in the Ashanti Region has put up a team to investigate the death of Nana Kwame and also look into the deceased family?s allegation of police brutalities.
?The police as an institution is against and does not endorse or encourage torture or any form of brutalities,? he said. He assured the public that any officer found to be liable would be dealt with according to the law of the land.
The Statesman is informed that an autopsy will be conducted on the body at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, with the results expected to be announced before noon today.
In the Mobila murder case it may be recalled that during the late hours of December 8, 2004, sporadic shootings occurred in Tamale, particularly in the suburbs of Lamsheggu, Sakasaka, Chogu and Aboabo. Mr Mobila was arrested by the security agencies and questioned on his suspected involvement in distribution of firearms in the Tamale metropolis just before the elections.
He had to be transferred from the Tamale Central Police station to the military barracks following threats of mob attack on the Police to rescue him.
Mr Mobila later died in custody. The Inspector General of Police instituted a full scale inquiry. The military also set up a board of enquiry to establish how Alhaji Mobila died whilst in military custody.
24/04/2007
By Richard Ofori-Atta & Sam Osei.
The Statesman can exclusively reveal that the trial of the alleged murderers of Issah Mobila, who lost his live while under military custody in December 2004, will begin within the next two weeks.
The alleged torture and killing of the then regional chairman of the Convention People's Party, and what seemed to be the apparent reluctance on the part of the state to bring the culprits to book had become a serious embarrassment for a government, which is noted for its human rights record.
Barely a week after the December 2004 elections, the NDC held a press conference and catalogued alleged attacks against NDC
Supporters (including Alhaji Mobila) in Dagbon and the opposition have since accused Government of denying the late Alhaji Mobila justice.
Yet there were other victims of violence who were also awaiting justice. Three NPP activists were also murdered. The case against their alleged killers is also ready for prosecution, The Statesman can report.
But, even before the trial of Alhaji Mobila"s killers begin, The Statesman can report that another alleged murder in custody has occurred; this time in Kumasi.
Collins Okyere, also known as Nana Kwame Sarpong, 35, died on Saturday after he was allegedly repeatedly tortured by officers of the Striking Force Unit. Nana Kwame Sarpong was a trotro driver from Anomanye, Suame, Kumasi. He was arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of robbery when the police apprehended a stolen taxi he was passenger in.
According to the murdered man?s mother, Theresa Manu, her son was beaten to confess even though the driver of the stolen vehicle had told the police that Nana Kwame was innocent and should therefore be set free.
But the police are refuting Madam Manu?s story. According to the Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Ashanti Region, Mohammed Tanko, the deceased was part of a car-jacking gang that was arrested by the Striking Force. He told The Statesman that Nana Kwame was identified with a gang suspected to have stolen several vehicles in Kumasi. The police, he said, have "witnesses to testify to their crime.?
Narrating her story to our correspondence, the grieving mother of the deceased said her son was at home with her at Suame last Wednesday morning when colleague driver of his late son, drove to the house in a taxi, accompanied by his girlfriend. His son joined them to Magazine to apparently undertake repair work on the vehicle.
She said on reaching the Suame Magazine, the taxi was surrounded by armed officers from the Striking Force Unit. She said they were arrested on charges of the stolen vehicle and taken to the police station where they were placed at counter-back for questioning.
Madam Manu said she was informed by someone about her son?s arrest so she rushed to the police station where she saw her son and the others behind bars.
According to the mother, the driver confessed to the police but added that her son, Nana Kwame, knew nothing about it, pleading with the police for Nana Kwame?s release.
Madam Manu told this paper of the numerous times her son was allegedly tortured. ?I was outside when other people who had come to the police station to visit their relatives screamed that my son had collapsed and was dying. When I went closer to the counter I saw him lying there with the police looking on unconcerned. They rather complained that he was epileptic; something I know not to be true! I went straight to my son and fed him with water to revive him,? she narrated.
Within seconds of reviving her son, one police officer allegedly started hitting him again demanding a confession.
On the third day, she alleged her son was again beaten mercilessly for pouring water on the floor of the station.
Madam Manu said the following day she sent her children to go and give their brother food only for them to rush back that their brother was no where to be found as no one was willing to tell them his whereabouts.
It later transpired that the body had been deposited at the mortuary, where our correspondent and colleagues managed to sneak in and took snaps of the body. The police were later on confronted with the gruesome photographs, which showed how Nana Kwame was beaten to pulp.
While maintaining there was evidence implicating the deceased in crime, Mr Tanko, conceded that law enforcement agents cannot subject suspects in their custody to torture. The police administration in the Ashanti Region has put up a team to investigate the death of Nana Kwame and also look into the deceased family?s allegation of police brutalities.
?The police as an institution is against and does not endorse or encourage torture or any form of brutalities,? he said. He assured the public that any officer found to be liable would be dealt with according to the law of the land.
The Statesman is informed that an autopsy will be conducted on the body at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, with the results expected to be announced before noon today.
In the Mobila murder case it may be recalled that during the late hours of December 8, 2004, sporadic shootings occurred in Tamale, particularly in the suburbs of Lamsheggu, Sakasaka, Chogu and Aboabo. Mr Mobila was arrested by the security agencies and questioned on his suspected involvement in distribution of firearms in the Tamale metropolis just before the elections.
He had to be transferred from the Tamale Central Police station to the military barracks following threats of mob attack on the Police to rescue him.
Mr Mobila later died in custody. The Inspector General of Police instituted a full scale inquiry. The military also set up a board of enquiry to establish how Alhaji Mobila died whilst in military custody.
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