Lawyer for driver of slain GPHA PR Manager fires Police-accuse them of being dishonest in their investigations

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A legal representative for one of the accused persons in the murder of Mr Josephine Tandoh Asante has described the Ghana Police Service as being dishonest in their investigation and must be mindful of the fact that their remuneration comes from the taxpayer

The counsel, Mr Isaac Eshun, for the official driver of the deceased also advertised his intention to take judicial notice of delays in the case.

His outburst at the Tema TDC Court yesterday, Monday, April 8 2019, was triggered when the Head of DNA Unit of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) of the police, Superintendent Dr Kofi Agyepong Afrifa mounted the witness box.

Dr Afrifa who was subpoenaed, told the court presided over by Her Ladyship Mrs Akosua Anokyewaa Agyepong that the FSL is currently undergoing routine maintenance and that Technical Experts are expected to arrive in the country by the middle of next month to undertake installation to enable the center to conduct DNA tests locally.

According to Dr Afrifa  who took over as head of the unit a year ago, to the best of his knowledge in that position, instruction from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was for the facility to conduct specific tests.

These are on spermatozoa found on the deceased and the blood samples collected from the scene.

The senior police officer doctor told the court that to the best of his knowledge as the head of the unit, he was not in a position to tell whether samples were obtained from the accused persons and where being kept.

He went on that the FSL is not responsible for the handling of foot and fingerprints

Asked by Mr Eshun how often the crime laboratory undertakes the said routine maintenance, he stated that once a year around April/May.

The lawyer then put it to him that he (Eshun) is aware that government had sometime ago released some amount to the police administration for refurbishment of the facility.

Counsel Eshun told the officer that aware of all the challenges the installation is faced with, he could have written to the court and not wait to be subpoenaed.

Mrs Anokyewaa Agyepong, the magistrate, asked the investigator in the case to make available statements of the accused persons to their respective counsels as requested for by Mr Baba Jamal, lawyer for the 1st accused Christian Agyei, the houseboy.

She also ordered that the head of the Ghana Police Service must ensure that result of the fingerprints obtained at the scene is provided to the court early.

According to her, it is the reason why somebody is in custody and do not want the accused human right to be abused.

Case has been adjourned to Thursday 18th of April 2019.

Source: The Chronicle


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Kennedy Mornah is an Award Winning Ghanaian Journalist with over two decades of experience in the Ghanaian Media landscape spanning the electronic, print and digital media. He is a Media Consultant, a Corporate MC, Radio and TV Host, Founder and Publisher of the Maritime and Transport Digest Newspaper, Businessman, a Go getter and an optimist. He has worked for renowned media organizations including Diamond Fm in Tamale, Luv Fm in Kumasi, Oman Fm in Accra and Starr Fm in Accra In 2017 he received the Reporter of the Year Award at the Ghana Shippers Awards in Accra, Ghana.

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