General News of Friday, 26 May 2006

Source: GNA

Guard dogs chase boy to death

Nsawam (E/R) May 26, GNA - Two men have been arraigned before the Nsawam District Magistrate Court for allegedly causing the death of a 17-year-old Junior Secondary School boy at Ankwa Dobro in the Eastern Region.

Joshua Azuma and Justice Oduro were alleged to have released guard dogs to chase Master Nutekpor Dodzie 17, into a fishpond where he drowned. Confirming the incident in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ernest Maayeb, Akuapem South District Police Commander said Mr Joseph Agbavitor, father of the deceased made a police report on Friday, alleging that his son had drowned in a nearby fishpond.

DSP Maayeb said according to Mr Agbavitor, he returned from work at 1900 hours on Thursday evening but could not find his son at home. He told the police that he postponed the search for the missing child that evening after being informed that guard dogs were patrolling the area and were attacking any object on sight. DSP Maayeb said Mr Agbavitor made the report after finding a pair of bathroom slippers belon ging to his son around the fishpond during a search the next morning.

DSP Maayeb said after taking Agbavitor's statement, a team of policemen was detailed to search for the boy.

With the help of some members of the community, the police team retrieved the body of the boy from the fishpond with cuts on the forehead and the thighs, suspected to be dog bites, according to DSP Maayeb. The case has been adjourned to June 17.