Judge Deplores Inhumane Treatment Of Suspects

A Circuit Court Judge in Cape Coast, Mr Richard Asiedu-Badu, has appealed to the police administration to ensure that police cells were provided with toilet facilities to properly dispose of liquid waste.

He said it was inhuman to ask suspects to carry and dispose of human excreta from the cells.

'Find a better way of disposing human excreta from cells and not to allow suspects to carry it when they are in handcuffs,' Mr Asiedu-Badu said.

Mr Asiedu-Badu said this on Monday when he sentenced Stephen Gollow, a 20-year-old driver, to three months in prison for escaping from lawful custody while he was being escorted to dispose of human excreta.

He said he was being lenient with the sentence because Gollow had been treated in an inhumane manner.

'We have passed the age when people carried human excreta on their heads,' Mr Asiedu-Badu said.

Gollow had pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Superintendent of Police, Cyril Ackom, told the court that on October 24 last year Gollow was in custody at Mankessim over the theft of a motorbike for which he was being processed for court.

While being escorted in handcuffs on October 29 to dispose of human excreta in a bucket from the cell he threw down the bucket and took to his heels.

He said he escaped with the handcuffs but was re-arrested on December 22.

Gollow is facing another charge before the same court for allegedly conspiring to stealing a motorbike valued at GH¢350.

He had pleaded not guilty and would re-appear on January 28.

Chief inspector Augustine Amonoo, told the court that nine months ago the complainant in the case left his motorbike on his veranda at Mankessim and went to bed but found it missing the next day.

He said a witness in the case informed him that Gollow and one Patrick had stolen the bike and the matter was reported to the police.

Gollow was arrested but Patrick escaped.