3 Arrested over Tefle Chief’s Murder

THREE PERSONS have been arrested by the Sogakofe District Police Command for their alleged involvement in the murder of 59 year old Torgbe Adontsiri V of Tefle-Tademe, who had been missing for the last five years.

Kpoto Mlofe, 63, Dzikpeto Addo Mlofe, 42 and Kwadzovi Kumahlor,73, all farmers at Tefle were arrested on Tuesday October 23 after questioning the previous day.

A probe by the police forced the three to subsequently lead investigators at the Sogakofe District Police Station to the unmarked grave of the deceased chief.

District Police Commander, DSP Rev. John Opoku told DAILY GUIDE the deceased person’s son, Tetteh Dotsi in the company of the widow, Ama Dotsi and his brother, Believe Dotsi called at the station on Monday, October 22 to report that some time in 2007, he (Tetteh) was at Abotuase when he received a call from Yaw Dotsi, a cousin that his father had been rushed to the hospital for treatment after falling sick.

He said he came down expecting to be taken to the said hospital but that never happened. His mother, Ama could also not tell the whereabouts of their father.

In September, the three suspects held a meeting during which they planned the funeral of Torgbe Adontsiri and followed it up with an invitation letter allegedly signed by the Fiaga of Tefle Traditional Area, Torgbe Nakakpo Dugbaza VIII stating that the late chief’s final funeral rites would be held in December.

As tradition and custom demand, the three and their cohort on October 10, begun firing musketry to herald the final funeral rites of the late chief whose remains his wife and children claimed they had not seen.

They are therefore suspected to be the masterminds behind the murder and secret burial of the deceased.

The suspects were on Thursday morning arraigned before the Dabala Magistrate Court on four counts of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and hindrance to inquest.

Narrating the facts to the court, prosecuting Inspector Jacob Awiagah said the complainant, Ama Dotsi reported that sometime in 2007, she and her husband Torgbe Adontsiri, chief of the Deh Clan of Tefle-Tademe were asleep when the three suspects knocked at their door.

At the sound of the knock, at about 12 midnight, Torgbe opened the door and was invited out by the three but had since never returned home.

The plea of the three was not taken.

However their counsel narrated a different opinion saying the arrest of the three was influenced by a rival of Torgbe Adontsiri who he said was a police officer.

Counsel said the deceased chief died of natural causes.

He explained that Torgbe Adontsiri died in the arms of his wife who then raised an alarm drawing the attention of the three suspects to the scene.

He claimed he was sent to the Akatsi Hospital mortuary and later buried in his deserted house according to the custom and tradition of the Tefle people.

He then backed his claims with documents including photographs of the installation of the said successor to the deceased chief.

The photos allegedly showed a daughter, nephew and widow of the deceased chief in a jubilant mood during the enstoolment of the rival, Torgbe Adontsiri VI.

The deceased’s daughter, Malafa Dotsi who identified her mother in the said photos told the court that her father died and was buried. She said she was informed about the death just a day after her father died.

But Believe Dotsi who resides in Accra said he was not aware that his father was dead until now.

The widow was indisposed and was therefore not in court.

The presiding magistrate then adjourned the case to Tuesday November 7, 2012 after he admitted the three to bail in the sum of GH¢4,000 each with two sureties each.

One of the two sureties was each to be justified.

He also ordered the police to invite Yaw Dotsi, the nephew of the deceased for questioning.

As at press time Wednesday, the three had not been able to meet the bail terms. They were still being kept in police custody until the terms of the bail were met.