Police photographer testifies in Mobilla's case

Accra, July 6, GNA - A Police photographer on Wednesday narrated how he took shots of the corpse of Alhaji Issa Mobilla at the Tamale Regional Hospital Mortuary.

Police Detective Sergeant Christine Adzakpo who was led in evidence by Ms Merley Wood, a Chief State Attorney, said on December 11, 2004, he was on duty at the Tamale Regional Police Station.

He said Detective Sergeant George Mensah Belli, the Police Officer investigating the case, asked him to accompany the investigator to the Tamale Hospital Mortuary to take shots of the corpse of Mobilla, Former Northern Regional Chairman of Convention People's Party (CPP).

Sergeant Adzakpo, who is the first prosecution witness, was testifying in the case in which Corporal Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka are facing two charges of conspiracy to murder and murder of Mobilla on December 9, 2004.

They have, however, denied the charges before the reconstituted seven-member jury at the Accra Fast Track High Court presided over by Mr Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh.

The third accused person, Private Seth Goka, is currently on the run. Sergeant Adzakpo said on reaching the mortuary, the corpse was removed from the cold cabinet and he inspected it and found out that there were bruises and marks of assault from the neck to the toe.

According to him, he took seven shots, processed, endorsed and handed them over to Sergeant Belli, the investigator.

After inspecting the photographs given to him by the prosecution, Sergeant Adzakpo tendered them in evidence.

Sergeant Adzakpo said in the morning of December 17, 2004, one Dr Boateng, a Pathologist from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi came to the Tamale Regional Police Headquarters and together with Sergeant Belli and another police personnel accompanied the Pathologist to the Tamale Regional Hospital.

Witness said during the autopsy, he took shots of the corpse and handed them over to the Sergeant Belli but could not tell what the investigator used them for.

While admitting that he knew the deceased before his death, witness denied ever knowing the accused persons.

Answering questions under cross-examination by Mr Thaddeus Sory, defence counsel, Sergeant Adzakpo explained that the deceased was a member of a local Cards Club and therefore he (deceased) often visited the Tamale Police barracks.

Witness said the deceased also visited the Tamale Police Station any time any of his relatives had problems with the Police.

Sergeant Adzakpo said he was not present when Mobilla was brought to the Police Station on December 9, 2004 and therefore could not tell how the deceased sustained the bruises on his body.

The facts of the case are that Alhaji Mobilla was arrested by the police on December 9, 2004 for allegedly supplying the youth in Tamale with guns to foment trouble.

While in custody, the police claimed they received information that his followers and sympathisers were mobilising to free him. The deceased was consequently transferred 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 the deceased was sent to the hospital dead and that he died from multiple wounds.

The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, July 19.