Sunyani (Western Region) 5 May ?99

A mob at Drobo in the Brong Ahafo has vandalised and looted the property of a prominent local businessman on suspicion that he has murdered his watchman for ritual purposes.

A cargo truck belonging to Mr Issah Kramo, the businessman, was set ablaze while his pick-up truck was vandalised beyond repairs.

In addition, his house and four stores in the town were looted by the angry mob, which claimed that the Police was dealing "softly" with Mr Kramo, in spite of strong incriminating evidence against him.

The deceased, Mr Mumuni Sissala, a 74-year-old watchman, was found dead in front of one of the shops belonging to Mr Kramo, on April 25 this year with a deep knife cut behind his left ear.

Among the items looted by the mob were television sets, sewing machines, mattresses and other electronic gadgets valued at millions of cedis.

The deputy regional crime officer, Mr Moses Zida, confirmed the incident in an interview at Sunyani on Tuesday.

Mr Kramo and the deceased?s son, Mr K. Adjei, has been placed in prison custody in connection with the case and would be arraigned before the Berekum community tribunal on Wednesday on a provisional charge of murder, Mr Zida said.

He said 13 other people have so far been arrested for their alleged involvement in the destruction and looting of Mr Kramo?s property.

Four of the suspected looters are in prison custody, while eight others arrested on Monday, by a regional Police Task Force, were being screened.

Also to be arraigned before the tribunal on Wednesday is one Aboagye, who is suspected to have stolen 11 million cedis from Mr Kramo's shop during the mob attack.

The mob accused Mr Kramo of conspiring with Adjei to kill his father for ritual purposes so that he would reward him with a car.

The police said they were still investigating and could, therefore, not confirm or deny the accusation against Adjei.

Mr Zida appealed to members of the public, who have information on both the murder and the looting to assist the Police in their investigations.