Pathologist clears police of wrong doing

A pathologist report from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital says an inmate of the Central Police cells in Kumasi, now deceased, died of severe head injury and trauma, but the family is contesting the report

The Kumasi Regional Police Command's Public Affairs Director, Jordan Quaye, said cell mates of Collins Okyere, also known as Nana Kwame Sarpong, claimed he got into a fit and hit his head several times against the cell walls, and when they called for help, he was already unconscious and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Komfo Anokye Hospital.

A police statement issued on Wednesday quotes a pathologist report from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital corroborating its earlier stand and that of the cell mates of Sarpong.

The report contravenes claims by the deceased's family that the police tortured their son to death.

Dr. Addai Mensah conducted the post-mortem examination in the presence of the police, the deceased's family and other witnesses. The Kumasi police are challenging family members of the deceased to come forward with information or evidence that the deceased was tortured to death.

On April 19 2007, the Kumasi striking force arrested Nana Kwame Sarpong and two others, Kilventus Urbenoll and Akua Amponsah on suspicion that they stole five Opel Astra taxicabs in succession from drivers in Kumasi.

The robbers admitted the offence after an initial denial and led the police to arrest the other accomplices.

However, the family of the deceased is contesting the explanations from the police.

Joy News has information that a family member has filed a complaint at the Kumasi offices of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to look into the issue.