Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 18 January 2007

Source: GNA

Police to investigate Suhum killings.

Koforidua, Jan. 18, GNA- The Police would rely on medical evidence, not sentiments in determining the cause of the five deaths that have occurred in Suhum in the Eastern Region since November 2006. A Police source told the GNA at Koforidua on Thursday that although the Police Administration shares the pain of the families of the deceased persons, it was nonetheless proper not to speculate on the cause of deaths.

The unexplained deaths were the immediate cause of a violent riot that erupted in the township on Wednesday.

According to the source, some pathologists have been tasked to proclaim on whether the resultant deaths were the machinations of some serial killers or were due to some other things.

In the instance, the source explains that it would not be proper for the police administration to proclaim or speculate with unproven facts what was responsible for the deaths.

Meanwhile, the Police have beefed up security in the Suhum township to forestall recurrence of Wednesday's mob action that saw some 500 angry youth taking charge of the major access routes to and from Suhum.

One mile into the Suhum-Kumasi road and two miles on the Suhum-Koforidua road saw the action of the mob who denied access to commuters on perhaps one of the busiest arterial corridor in the country.

The incensed youth smashed the windscreens of two Police vehicles enroute to the trouble-spot to quell the resistance while a Fire Service detachment responding to a call to put off burning fires were also pelted with stones.