Police Investigator testifies in Kombian's case

A police officer assigned to investigate the case of a businessman being held over the death of two policemen has testified before the Fast Track High Court.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Hanson Gove, who was led in evidence by Mrs Marina Appiah Opare, Principal State Attorney, admitted knowing the defendant, Johnson Kombian, whom he described as a farmer and businessman.

The case investigator said he got to know the accused when he was first brought to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, in Accra, by a team of Ghana and Togo Interpol personnel on November 24, 2010.

Kombian and his accomplices, who are on the run, were alleged to have ambushed the three policemen, two of which, Constables Prince Agyare and Owusu Frimpong, died in the attack.

Kombian has denied the charge of conspiracy, and two counts of killing the two police officers, before a seven-member jury. He has been remanded by the court presided over by Mr Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh.

DSP Gove said Kombian was arrested in connection with the death of Constables Prince Agyare and Owusu Frimpong.

He added that at the crime scene, ASP Mumuni identified the motorbike Constables Agyare and Frimpong had fell from and retrieved 24 empty cartridges from the scene, which was tendered in evidence.

The witness said he further interviewed witnesses and during investigations he established that the deceased and the surviving victim were serving at Gunkpurugu Yonyo district.

DSP Gove said the deceased officers went to their duty post and after closing they were ambushed by the armed men.

After the shooting incident, the investigator said Constable Agyare made a phone call to Lance Corporal Samuel Darko who quoted Agyare as saying “We are being attacked by Johnson Kombian.”

DSP Gove said minutes after the firing had stopped Constable Agyare, who was then returning from his hideout, was shot by Kombian and his accomplices.

Witnesses said Constable Agyare then screamed “Why are you killing us.”

DSP Gove said some minutes later, ASP Mumuni went in search of their colleagues and found Constable Agyare’s lifeless body but managed to send Constable Frimpong and Osei Bonsu to the hospital.

The investigator said when he interrogated Kombian, he denied killing the two police officers saying that, on the day of the incident, he had gone to Togo to look for accommodation for his wife and children.

The investigator tendered the photographs taken at the crime scene as well as the accused person’s cautioned statement.

In Kombian’s cautioned statement, DSP Gove said he denied knowing anything about the death of the two policemen.

According to Kombian’s statement, he indicated the Police had raided Nankpanduri twice and set fire to houses and, as a result, his mother's house was affected which rendered the family homeless, hence his leaving for Togo to rent a house.

Kombian stated that he had a call from his wife’s uncle that his wife was sick and he was arrested when he was returning from Togo.

Answering questions under cross- examination by defence counsel, Mr George Asamaney, asked whether Kombian gave a voluntary statement.

The cross- examination is scheduled to continue on June 10.