Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 20 September 2006

Source: GNA

Two suspected dealers in human bones arrested at Elubo

Sekondi, Sept. 20, GNA -Two suspected criminals dealing in human bones were arrested by the police at Elubo on the Ghana-Cote de' Ivoire border on September 9, this year.

Kwesi Tawiah, farmer, 44 years and Yaw Willie, 35, are in police custody in Sekondi, pending investigations into how they came by human bones they tried to sell to an Elubo-based businessman, who posed as a prospective buyer.

The relics, comprising the skull, lower jaw, legs, arms and tight bones were priced at four million Cedis.

Mr Kofi Duku Arthur, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Western Region, told a press conference in Sekondi on Tuesday that, Tawiah confided in Atule Kwesi that, he had human bones to sell. Unknown to the suspect, Atule Kwesi informed the Police and a prospective buyer was arranged.

He was given 10,000 cedis as taxi fare to go to Cocoa Town, a suburb with Atule Kwesi to bring the bones, which they brought later in a sack and agreed to take 3.5 million Cedis after a hard bargain. Police arrived on the scene and arrested Tawiah, whilst being paid the money.

Mr Arthur said during interrogation, the suspect said he found the bones on his farm about three months ago and suspected that it was the remains of someone, who committed suicide. He brought them home and showed them to his bosom friend Yaw Willie a fetish priest, who told him that he could sell the bones to make a lot of money.

Investigations are going on to identify the deceased, Mr Arthur said.