A third suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of the 24-year-old business woman in Koforidua, Rita Afia Adusei Opokua.

The suspect only identified as Babule was arrested Wednesday at his hide out in Koforidua.

Police is on manhunt for the arrest of the last suspect.

Residents storm court premises

The premises of the Koforidua District Magistrate Court ‘A’ was flooded by incensed residents when two suspected murderers of the 24-year-old businesswoman, made their maiden appearance in Court Tuesday, July 17, 2019.

The two accused persons, Francis Torgbuiga, 36, and Iddi Mohammed alias Colombia, were remanded into Police Custody to reappear on July 30, 2019.

This was after the Prosecutor, George Defia, prayed the court to remand them to enable the police to conduct further investigations. The Court Presided over by His Worship Osei Asibbey also granted application for bench warrant by the Prosecutor for the arrest of two other accomplices now at large.

Police personnel present in the court had a tedious time whisking away the accused persons into a taxi stationed at a corner of the court premises ostensibly to swerve the angry residents.

That notwithstanding they chased and banged the taxi amidst raining of curses, hooting and threats to lynch them to revenge their callous act.

Arrest

The two accused persons reported to be part of a gang of assailants who murdered the deceased were arrested by the Effiduase District Police Command.

Sources close to the Police indicate on July 14, 2019, Police intelligence unravelled that suspect Francis Torgbuiga was in possession of a Techno Mobile phone owned by the deceased and immediately arrested him, upon which he admitted being part of the gang that murdered her.

Upon further interrogation, he mentioned second suspect, ‘Colombia’, and two others whose name he did not know as part of the assailants.

Police proceeded to arrest the second suspect at his hideout. The two suspects are currently in Police custody as efforts are underway to arrest the other accomplices.

Background

Twenty-four-year-old Rita Afia Adusei Opokua was murdered by the unknown assailants in a bush behind the SDA Education Unit Office along the Kasadjan road in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

The body of the deceased was retrieved the following day by Police and deposited at the St. Joseph Hospital Morgue.

Information gathered by Starr News indicates the deceased left the house to the shop to sell on July 9, 2019, at 7:00 am but did not return. Several efforts to trace her whereabouts were not successful.

However, her body was found lying dead in a nearby bush behind SDA Educational Unit Office near Abrewa- Nkwanta the following morning.

Sister to the deceased Lydia Bosompem reported the incident to the Police and crime scene investigators from the Effiduase District Police Command were dispatched to the scene.

According to Police report, the deceased was “found lying dead in supine position wearing black underwear halfway below the waist and her long dress pulled on her stomach. Spot investigations show signs of struggle suggesting deceased struggled with her assailants before she was overpowered and dragged into the bush”.

The Police Investigators explained further that inspections on the body revealed bruises on the cheek and blood oozing from the left ear. Other visible marks of assault were seen around the back, right ankle, buttocks and both thighs.