By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba
A police officer who handed
over Issah Mobilla to his alleged killers, testifying before an Accra Fast
Track High Court hearing the case, was yesterday ordered to produce copies of a dismissal letter from the police services by
the then Northern Regional Police Commander and other relevant documents pursuant
to his dismissal allegation.
Detective Lance-corporal Mathias Abegnoore , a prosecution witness in the case was asked by the court to produce the proceeding in the
services leading to his dismissal, the letter that purported to have dismissed
him, copy of his petition to the dismissal and copy of a
letter recalling him back into the service.
The court order followed an
application by the defence counsel, Mr.Thadeus Sory during his cross
–examination of the witness.
D/CPL, Abegnoore had testified that he was intimidated and
dismissed for implicating the military in the death of Mobilla, a former
Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
He told the court that, prior to his dismissal he was accused of
misconduct before his superiors for
which he believe was never true but was just to use as a punish to him for
refusing to comply with the then Regional Commander directive not to implicate the military in his
investigation on Mobila murder case.
He said also that the accused persons, namely, Corporal Yaw
Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka had subjected Mobila to both physical and
verbal abuse on December 9, 2004.
According to him, the deceased was also made to stand acrobatic
in the Military guard room and later hit in the chest several times with a
stick.
A third accused person, Private Seth Goka, is currently on the run. The accused persons, who are on remand, have denied the offence.
Mr Sory asked the witness if he could furnish the court with documents on his trial by the Ghana Police Service that led to his dismissal, D/clp Abegnoore was not candid in his answer and that compelled counsel to make the application, which was opposed by the prosecution as a calculated attempt to delay the proceedings.
Counsel said the documents were very relevant to the defence’s case and his application was granted by the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh, who adjourned further cross-examination to April 16, 2012.
The witness said that he was intimidated by his Regional Commander that he (witness) would see and that he was later dismissed on the grounds that he misconduct himself for failing to obey instructions from a superior officer.
Detective Abegnoore said that he was subsequently dismissed and he petitioned and during the later part of 2010 he was recalled to duty.
A third accused person, Private Seth Goka, is currently on the run. The accused persons, who are on remand, have denied the offence.
Mr Sory asked the witness if he could furnish the court with documents on his trial by the Ghana Police Service that led to his dismissal, D/clp Abegnoore was not candid in his answer and that compelled counsel to make the application, which was opposed by the prosecution as a calculated attempt to delay the proceedings.
Counsel said the documents were very relevant to the defence’s case and his application was granted by the presiding judge, Mr. Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh, who adjourned further cross-examination to April 16, 2012.
The witness said that he was intimidated by his Regional Commander that he (witness) would see and that he was later dismissed on the grounds that he misconduct himself for failing to obey instructions from a superior officer.
Detective Abegnoore said that he was subsequently dismissed and he petitioned and during the later part of 2010 he was recalled to duty.
During his evidence in which he was led by a Chief State Attorney,
Ms Penelope Marmattah, the witness told the court that Appiah, apart from
subjecting Mobilla to verbal abuse, ordered him to suspend himself with both
hands on the ground and his legs in the air.
He said Modzaka used a nim tree stick to hit Mobilla’s chest several times.
At that point, the witness was challenged by counsel for the accused persons, Mr Thaddeus Sory, for making up false stories.
According to Abegnoore , he could not state his evidence in his earlier statements because he had been intimidated and dismissed by his former boss.
The witness said an alibi put up by Modzaka also turned out to be false.
The witness’ evidence followed leave granted to the prosecution to file additional evidence in the matter.
He said Modzaka used a nim tree stick to hit Mobilla’s chest several times.
At that point, the witness was challenged by counsel for the accused persons, Mr Thaddeus Sory, for making up false stories.
According to Abegnoore , he could not state his evidence in his earlier statements because he had been intimidated and dismissed by his former boss.
The witness said an alibi put up by Modzaka also turned out to be false.
The witness’ evidence followed leave granted to the prosecution to file additional evidence in the matter.
Detective Abegnoore evidence was similar to Sgt George Kpigli,
who testified at the last sitting and the defence said, they have been coached
to lie against the accused persons to build the prosecution case.
Alhaji Mobilla was arrested by the police on December 9, 2004 for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.
While he was in custody, the police claimed they received information that his followers and sympathizers were mobilizing to free him.
He was consequently relocated from police cells to the Kamina Military Barracks and handed over to the three accused persons.
According to the prosecution, Alhaji Mobilla died in military custody three hours after he had been handed over to the accused persons, who were on duty that day.
The pathologist’s report revealed that Alhaji Mobilla was sent to the hospital dead and that he died from multiple abrasions and wounds.
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