Another Police brutality?

Suspect chained to cell wall
… with his hands cuffed

From Samuel Agbewode, Kpedze |

A lecturer at the Department of Pharmaconogsy at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Mr Gustav Komalaga has questioned the level of competence of the police at Kpedze in the Ho municipality as they have taken the law into their own hands instead of protecting it.

The lecturer noted that the police at Kpedze openly displayed their ignorance regarding the country’s human rights laws and started brutalizing a 32 year old man, Mr Elias Agbana who was arrested at Kpoeta- Achem last Wednesday and charged with the offence of obstructing a police officer.

Mr Komalaga disputed the charges and explained that one Inspector Fiagbor who affected the arrest of the man together with one other police officer, went to the house of the victim to arrest an accused person who happened to be his brother, for defilement. They could however not get him.

The lecturer continued that the police went to the house again to arrest the suspect who attempted to run away but was chased by the complainant who later reported to the police that he grabbed the suspect but the brother, Elias had helped him to escape.

Mr Komalaga noted that the police who did not investigate what the complainant had told them quickly arrested the victim and started molesting him.

At the police station, Mr Komalaga said Elias’ two hands were in handcuff in police cells while his two legs were also chained. He said sometimes Elias was brought out from cell, chained against the wall in front of the charge office in the full glare of the public.

The lecturer expressed concern about the situation where the police handcuffed both hands and feet and still gave him kenkey to eat.

Mr Komalaga pointed out that Elias was refused bail the first and second days until the third day when he was released without being processed him for court.

He said the conduct of the police was not only in violation of the basic human rights of Elias but continued to create mistrust and lack of confidence among the public.

Inspector Kudanu, the officer-In-charge of the Kpedze police station however denied the allegation of maltreatment of Elias but agreed that he was arrested and kept in police cells. According to him the victim collected polythene bags in the cells, pushed it through a small hole and started striking at the cell gate which was disturbing police officers in their offices.

Inspector Kudanu continued that the police then opened the cell and brought him out to the verandah but denied ever chaining both hands and feet.