Magistrate orders medical attention for suspect in Tema murder case
The TDC Magistrate Court in Tema has directed the investigator in the case involving the murder of Mrs Josephine Asante, the Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), to ensure that one of the suspects in the case receives adequate medical attention following an assault he suffered at the hands of cell mates.
Mrs Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong has also ordered the police to investigate issues of ill-treatment being meted out on the suspect, Christian Adjei, by some cell mates.
Adjei is currently on remand at the Nima Police Station.
The instruction was given after counsel for Adjei informed the court that the suspect nearly lost his life after he was maltreated in custody by some of the cell inmates.
Vomiting blood
Mr Isaac Eshun, who held brief for Mr Baba Jamal, informed the court that two weeks ago, his client was subjected to some beatings leading to he (Adjei) vomiting blood.
He said following a distress call from the mother of the suspect, he had to make an emergency call to the investigator to arrange for the suspect to be taken to the Police Hospital.
The magistrate said the life of the suspect was paramount adding that the court could not try a dead person hence the prosecution must ensure the wellbeing of Adjei in jail.
The investigator, who was in court, informed the magistrate that the cell inmates, who beat up the suspect, had been relocated to another cell.
When the case was called last Monday, the prosecutor, Inspector Beatrice Ayeh, said investigations were still ongoing.
Delays
Mr Eshun complained that the prosecution was delaying the case unduly considering that they were unable to tell the court the stage of their investigations and when the case would be forwarded to the AG's office.
In response to an enquiry by the magistrate into the police investigations, Ms Ayeh said the duplicate copy of the docket would be sent to the Attorney-General’s office for advice within a month’s time. The case has thus been adjourned to August 8, 2019.
Background
Mrs Asante was murdered on January 13, 2019 at her residence at EMEFS Estates near Afienya in the Greater Accra Region.
Two persons, Amos Apeku, her personal driver and Christian Adjei, a houseboy, are before the Tema TDC Magistrate Court for the death of the former Marketing and Public Affairs Manager of GPHA.
Apeku has been granted bail by the High Court in Accra while Adjei is on remand.