A father and his son have been arrested by the Assin South District Police Command in connection with the alleged killing of a 31-year-old man at Assin Akrofuom in the Central Region.
The suspects, identified as Joseph Mensah and his son, Anthony Mensah, are accused of assaulting Samuel Kofi Amankwa, popularly known as Kofi Marshie, following allegations that he had stolen cocoa beans and coconut seedlings.
According to preliminary police investigations, the incident was triggered by claims that the deceased had taken half a bag of fresh cocoa beans belonging to the suspects. He had also reportedly been accused of stealing their coconut seedlings on an earlier occasion.
However, the family of the deceased has disputed the circumstances surrounding the incident, alleging that the suspects forcibly removed him from his room and subjected him to severe beatings.
The Asona Abusuapanin of Assin Akrofuom, Nana Kofi Ohemeng, told Citi News:
“The deceased was asleep when the suspects forcibly entered his room, dragged him outside and assaulted him.”
The deceased’s sister, Ama Bimpomaa, also alleged that her brother was tied to an electricity pole and beaten severely.
“They tied my brother to an electricity pole with a rope and subjected him to severe beatings until he collapsed and died,” she alleged.
Confirming the incident, the Central North Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent Edmund Agyemang Badu, said the two suspects reported themselves to the police after the incident and were assisting with investigations.
He explained that one of the suspects claimed in his caution statement that he confronted Amankwa after allegedly catching him stealing half a bag of fresh cocoa beans.
Police officers who visited the scene reportedly found the deceased lying near an electricity pole. A nylon rope suspected to have been used in restraining him was also retrieved.
Further examination of the body revealed bruises on the hands, eyebrows and waist, according to the police.
The body has since been deposited at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital morgue in Assin Fosu
