Tehoda Strikes Again

-Wants recall, reparation et al

The case of beleaguered former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda, is just refusing to go away as the Human Rights court in Accra throughout last week was told of how her rights were violated as a result of her detention, interdiction and subsequent dismissal from the Police Service.

According to former DSP who was sacked from the police service following her arrest by the Bureau of National Investigations(BNI) for her alleged involvement in the swapping of 120 kilograms of cocaine that served as evidence against one Nana Ama Martin, her rights were grossly trampled upon.

She told the court presided over by Justice Kofi Essel Mensah, that though a High Court in Accra ordered for her release, the Police Service failed to carry out the orders of the court and denied her bail on two occasions as a result of which she spent almost one month in cell.

Led in evidence by her counsel, Ephraim Agbeko Vordohgu, Mrs. Tehoda narrated to the court her ordeal whiles on police detention and also series of interrogations by the circuit court and the BNI.

She said the NBI hauled her before the circuit court, which sat on her case as early as 7a.m, adding, prior to that an eight-member panel from the Ghana Police Service interrogated her.

“Before the circuit court took my plea, I told the judge that the proceedings were conducted unfairly as my lawyers, family members and relatives were not aware of it,” she recounted.

Mrs Tehoda further told the Human Rights Court of how she was called and interdicted by the head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) immediately the third bail was granted her.

Thursday’s sitting marked the commencement of hearing of the suit brought before the court in 2012 about her dismissal from the Ghana Police Service.

Mrs. Tehoda has filed a writ against the State, seeking 11 reliefs including declaration that her detention in cells beyond 48 hours by the BNI was unlawful.

She is also seeking a declaration that her prosecution by the State over the alleged swapping of cocaine was malicious because the facts before the court could not establish any criminal charges against her.

Her lawyers are also praying the court for compensation for her unlawful dismissal, as well as an order against the Inspector General of Police to reinstate her with all benefits.

Mrs. Tehoda was in 2012 alleged to have assisted Nana Ama Martins, a suspected cocaine dealer, to escape prosecution after a cocaine exhibit miraculously turned into backing soda.

She was arrested by the BNI after investigations by the security agencies to determine how 120 kilograms of cocaine turned into baking soda.

She was put before an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Francis Obiri, on a charge of abetment of crime. The case was however dismissed after the prosecution, led by Rexford Wiredu, asked it (the court) to do so and she was discharged unconditionally.