Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region) 13 Jan '99

A former auditor with the Sunyani office of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) who was arrested in Sunyani for attempting to buy human blood for ritual purposes has been granted a police enquiry bail.

He is under a five million-cedis bail with two sureties to be justified.

The suspect, Mr Wilfred Tetteh is also to report twice daily to the police until he appears before a court.

A police source told the Ghana News Agency at Sunyani on Wednesday that Mr Tetteh could not be sent to court as expected because the Sunyani office of the Attorney Generals Department has not yet decided on charges to be preferred against him.

The source said the issue has been referred to the AG's in Accra and Mr Tetteh would be arraigned before a court as soon as advice is received..

Mr Tetteh, who until about three years ago was an auditor at the Sunyani office of the PBC was arresstedh he went to the Sunyani Government Hospital to buy blood from an anaesthetist. It is believed that his intention was to use the blood for ritual to enable him get a job.

In his caution statement, he claimed that his marriage was crumbling as a result of his joblessness and in his desperation to get a job he consulted a soothsayer who gave him a concoction to be mixed with human blood for bathing to help him get employment.

The anaesthetist found the request unusual and hinted the police who arrested Tetteh as soon as he took possession of a bottle he believed contained the blood..