Tribunal orders Investigation of six soldiers

An Accra circuit tribunal Thursday ordered investigations into allegations by an accused that six soldiers arrested him and three others and beat two of them to death. The judge said if the allegations are found to be true, the culprits should be brought to book. The order was made following allegations made by Tijani Mohammed, an accused charged with stealing from Meji Forex Bureau near the El-Wak Stadium.

Mohammed, on trial with two others for conspiracy, unlawful entry and stealing, told the tribunal that six soldiers arrested him and the others, sent them to a bush and beat them up until the two died. The soldiers then claimed that the two who died were at large, he added. Mohammed named one of the two as Sani, the third accused in the case. He said he did not know the name of the other one. The tribunal, chaired by Mrs Anderson Yeboah, ordered: " We think this allegation needs to be investigated and, if it is true, the soldiers must be brought to book. "We ask that the incident be brought to the attention of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for possible redress. The prosecution in the case confirms that the accused were arrested by soldiers who later handed them to the Cantonments Police". The tribunal ordered further that its Registrar must serve the DPP with the court's proceedings. Those on trial with Mohammed are Eze Eze, trader, and Mutari, who is at large. The two accused have pleaded not guilty and are each on a 10 million-cedi bail with one surety to re-appear on March 23. The case for the prosecution is that, on October 10, last year, Mr Osei Yaw, owner of Meji Forex Bureau, found that thieves had broken into his office and taken away 16,000 dollars, nine million cedis, and a bag. Upon a tip-off, the soldiers arrested the accused persons and others, beat them and later handed them to the Cantonments Police.