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Regional News of Thursday, 7 February 2008

Source: GNA

Hunter found dead three days after leaving home

Banso (Ash), Feb. 7, GNA- A 46-year-old hunter, who went hunting but failed to return home, has been found dead in the bush at Banso, near Ofoase in the Asante Akim South District. The body of Kwadwo Teye was found about two kilometres away from the community under a tree by a search party three days after he left home to hunt for game. Briefing the Ghana News Agency, Inspector Hedemeh Coffie of the Banso police station said the deceased on January 26, around 1730 hours went hunting and did not return. Three days later the wife of the deceased, Akosua Nuamah informed the assembly member about her missing husband and a report was made to the Banso police, who immediately organised a search party to look for the deceased. The search party after close to an hour's search discovered the body of the deceased under a tree with his gun and sack containing torchlight and some cartridges lying beside him. According to Inspector Coffie, preliminary investigations do not suggest any foul play, adding that, the deceased, who was a hernia patient, might have died from the ailment. Meanwhile the body has been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for autopsy. Lawyer protest against police conduct

Agona Swedru, Feb. 7, GNA- Attempts by two Swedru District Police detectives at to whisk away a suspect back to custody from the Swedru Circuit Court without the consent of the judge was thwarted by Mr Emmanuel Egyire, a legal practitioner. Mr Egyire, who is based at Agona Swedru confronted Lance Corporals Mariam Aboagye and Angelina Agyeman, when they attempted to take away his 16-year-old client, alleged to have stolen 40 Pesewas worth of burnt cooked rice from the Opanka restaurant at Swedru.

He protested vehemently against the conduct of the two detectives, who he claimed attempted to sabotage his efforts to get bail for the client charged with stealing.

Mr Egyire speaking to the GNA said after the confrontation the two detectives told him that they were instructed by DSP Raymond A. Martey, Head of Prosecution at the Swedru Divisional Police Headquarters, to take his client back to custody because the case had been adjourned to another date.

The Lawyer said his client was sent by a friend to buy him burnt cooked rice.

He said when the accused returned with the rice the friend complained that it was too small and asked him to go and plead with the seller to add some more.

Mr Egyire said his client was subjected to severe beatings by Kweku Kyere, a junior brother of the restaurant owner, who reported the matter to the Police and his client was arrested and charged before the court. He stated that he was at the court Presided over by Mr Charles Adjei Wilson and waited patiently for the case to be called to enable him to plead for bail for the suspect.

According to him the Judge rose to enable him to hear a marital case in camera and all of sudden the two police personnel attempted to "whisk" his client out of the court room into police custody. Mr Egyire noted that the Court Clerks denied that his client's case was mentioned and he submitted a fresh application for the case to be called and bail was granted.

He said when a case was within the domain of the court, the Police do not have the power to determine the fate of suspects. He appealed to the Police to desist from taking sides in cases before court and not to look like punishing people "in the grip of the law".