Police Accused Of Maltreating Man Involved In Accident With Prez Outrider

The Police Administration says it will investigate allegations of human rights violations against its personnel in the handling of a suspect involved in the accident that killed an outrider of the President’s convoy. The sixty-three year old man, Vincent Gbewornyo, who was arrested for allegedly causing the accident, is reported to have been chained to his bed at the Police Hospital where he is receiving treatment for injuries he sustained in the accident.

In an interview with JOYFM, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ernest Owusu Poku said under no circumstances should a suspect who is ill be chained to a hospital bed even if he poses a threat to other patients.

The IGP explained that a suspect considered dangerous would have guards keeping watch over him or her and will not be chained as has been alleged in the case of Mr. Gbewornyo. Mr. Gbewornyo’s wife told Joy FM that the police had chained her husband to his hospital bed. She wondered why a patient with high blood pressure could be chained to his bed.

Mrs. Gbewornyo denied that her husband fled an accident scene near Apam in the Central Region in January. The Police had asked the Osu Community Tribunal in Accra not to grant the suspect bail because he had killed a young man in that accident and was not co-operating with them. Mrs. Gbewornyo denied the allegation saying her husband did not flee the accident scene in January, but surrendered and was made to pay medical bills and other funeral expenses of the victim.

Highly placed sources have confirmed the chaining of Mr. Gbewornyo to his bed by a police officer. Speaking on condition of anonymity to JOY FM, the sources explained that the 63-year old suspect was chained to his bed as a precaution against a possible escape from remand as has happened in other cases.

Meanwhile, Counsel for the suspect, Mr. Chris Ackumey has also accused a police Sergeant of assault and issuing death threats to him. He told JOYFM that he was manhandled by the police officer. Mr Ackumey said he will soon file charges of assault and threat of death against the police officer who pushed him onto the streets, hit him twice with his mobile phone and threatened to kill him with his gun if he dares him.