A second person Thomas Zigah has been arraigned before the Adabraka District Court in connection with the murder of the Immigration Officer Stephen King Amoah.
The charge sheet which previously had only the name of the first accused person Bright Aweh has accordingly been amended to include Zigah.
The new charge sheet was however was not read in court. The two persons, will be facing committal proceedings in the alleged murder of the late immigration officer, whose charred remains were found in a gutter near the GBC Satellite area, opposite Comet Estate, few days after he went missing on July 3.
At the Adabraka District Court, on Friday August 21, lawyer for the two accused persons, Godwin Aboagye prayed the court to order the prosecution to specifically send Mr. Zigah to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital which is an independent healthcare facility for medical attention instead of the Police Hospital soon as possible. He argued fairness as the basis for his request.
The lawyer, said the police is handling the investigation and prosecution so there is the likelihood of doctors at the police hospital suppressing or hiding evidence critical to the trial. Mr Aboagye said the prosecution claims to have sent the accused to the hospital twice but he appeared before the court limping and with blood shot eyes.
The Prosecutor Chief Inspector Apewa Achana however urged the court to dismiss the prayer of the defence. He stated that the defence lawyer, did not show any compelling document to prove that Thomas Zigah is unwell. He said the police do not hesitate to send persons in their custody to the hospital when they complain of any sickness.
The Magistrate Awurama Damoah Dankwah, ruling on proceedings, demo the plea of the defence to order the prosecution to send the accused to Korle Bu. She held that there is no evidence to contradict the medical integrity of the medical officers at the Police Hospital.
She directed the defence lawyer to file a formal application if he thinks the health of the accused is in jeopardy.
The late Immigration Officer Amoah reportedly went missing last July 3 after leaving home to meet Bright Aweh who was his friend at Ashongman Estate in Accra but his partially burnt body was discovered days later in a gutter near the GBC Satellite area.
During a press briefing Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the deceased left home on the night of July 3, after he reportedly received photos of cash bundles from the accused who promised to meet him to settle a debt. The deceased allegedly did not return home that night and his phone remained unreachable which led to a report to the police on July 4.
Police investigations led to the arrest of Bright Aweh on July 6 who admitted meeting the deceased and gave him GH¢500.000.
The accused claimed that GH¢200,000 was to settle the debt and the remaining GH¢300,000 was for safe keeping. COP Donkor, said forensic investigations at the residence of the accused revealed blood stains in the living room, freshly sprayed walls, and signs of a hasty cleanup.
She also mentioned the discovery of a burnt woollen carpet, blood-stained camouflage fabric, and a fufu pestle soaked in blood hidden near where the spot where the deceased’s burnt body was found.
Meanwhile, angry family members of the murdered Immigration Officer gathered at the court premises. They attempted to heckle lawyer for the accused persons who was escorted by the police to his vehicle.
They also attacked the accused persons even under heavy police protection. The accused persons will be back in court on September 4.