Information available to The Daily Democrat has revealed that some police officers have been assisting an alleged Kuwaiti suspect, Hamad Anwar Ibrahim, who has been placed into prison custody by the courts, to roam the streets of Accra freely under the pretext of not feeling well.
The information indicates that the suspect has been seen on numerous occasions roaming the streets of Accra.
According to a source, this illegal act is orchestrated with the support of some powerful police officers, after a trial judge refused bail for the suspect when new evidence was presented to the court.
Hamad’s lawyer had reportedly requested bail for his client on the grounds that he is an asthmatic patient and therefore conditions at the police cells are not favourable for him.
The judge however ordered the transfer of the suspect to prison custody, considering that it will be better for his health.
The source disclosed that the suspect quickly reported sick to the police when he was about to be sent to prison, compelling the police to send him to the police hospital where he was admitted.
Incidentally, events after his admission have been full of drama and collusion that defies the court’s order.
According to information, the court on 13th February this year, specifically ordered that Anwar Ibrahim be kept in prison custody to appear today, 29th February 2012. However, the suspect with the help of the police allegedly goes out every day to any place of his choice, when he is supposed to be on his sick bed with a 24hour police protection.
Sources hinted to the paper that the suspect was first spotted in town on Wednesday 15th February between 6:00 pm and 7:40 pm by his victim, Mr. Henry Boakye, at Osu around the SSNIT Hospital.
He was spotted again the following day Thursday 16th February at the back seat of a Toyota Taxi Cub, with registration number GR 5010 12.
On Friday 17th February, the suspect was again spotted at a barbering shop at Asanka Locals, a restaurant in Osu. And then on Friday the 24th February, he was sent to a mosque for Jumaa prayers.
The source averred that the complainant, who was not happy with the turn of events, informed the Investigator of the case to ascertain the truth of the matter, as to how a suspect who was supposed to be in prison custody is openly enjoying himself in town in the company of a police officer.
The Investigator, one D/INSPR John Ofoeteh, however, expressed surprise, claiming that the only official information available to him is that the suspect is on admission at the Police Hospital with a 24hr police guard.
The suspect, Hamad Anwar Ibrahim was again spotted on Friday 24th at Papaye OSU with a gentleman who later identified himself as Aminu Baba Gida, a police officer from the Greater Accra Regional Headquarters.
For proof, the complainant filmed the suspect with his mobile phone, which sparked confrontation with the police Officer, who is also a Zongo Chief at Akyem Asene in the Eastern region.
When the suspect realized that the complainant had recognized him, he attempted to cover his face.
Further information gathered by the Daily Democrat suggests that when the suspect’s room was searched, syringes with liquid contents, which he allegedly intended to inject the complainant were found.
The liquids were later discovered to be poisonous after testing by the Ghana Standard Authority.
This new evidence changed the charge against Hamad Anwar Ibrahim from causing harm to attempted murder. The paper gathered that a friend of the victim, one Surakatu Ahmed introduced the suspect to the victim in October last year, as a partner she had been doing business with for some years.
Following this introduction, the victim was one day invited to attend a business meeting with another man called Osman who had then travelled outside Ghana. The Daily Democrat gathered that Osman returned on December 24th last year and had a call on the 27th from the Kuwaiti suspect that he was in town and that he could not reach his partner and would therefore like to see the victim for some discussions.
The suspect later sent a text to the victim to meet him at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel at 6 pm. The victim, upon arriving at the Hotel was told that there was no client named Hamad Anwar Ibrahim, at the hotel. So he called the suspect who told him to wait for him at the Lobby.
On arrival, the suspect allegedly told the victim that he was rather lodging at the Labadi Beach Hotel.
The victim then suggested they wait for the other partner, but the suspect ignored the suggestion with the excuse that he wanted to give him a parcel before the other partner joins them.
The suspect then asked the victim to pick the parcel on a table and open it to see what was inside, but he (the victim) told the suspect that he normally opens parcels when he gets home.
A source disclosed to this paper that the suspect told the victim he was at the hotel with the Company secretary who was in a different room and wanted to introduce him to her.
The victim, according to sources, in an attempt to pick the parcel from the table was stabbed by the suspect. The victim started to shout for help, and when there was a knock at the door, the suspect pulled a syringe which he attempted to inject him.
The source indicated that the hotel security broke down the door to rescue the man.
The paper gathered that the security quickly called for an ambulance and luckily, a Cuban Doctor staying at the hotel attempted to revive the victim by putting him on intravenous infusion for about two hours before he was rushed to the emergency ward at 37 Military Hospital where he was admitted for about 3 weeks.
The suspect was arrested and sent to police cells and later transferred to the Ministries police station.
The case is ongoing at the Cocoa Affairs Court 2. It was first adjourned for two weeks. The victim, at his second appearance briefed the court and again, it was adjourned for two weeks.
On his third appearance, after cross examination by the suspect’s lawyer, the case was adjourned from February 13th 2012 to the 29th of February this month. Before the case was adjourned, however, there was an order by the judge that the suspect be remanded in prison custody.
As at press time yesterday at approximately 7:30pm, a white V8 Toyota Landcruiser with registration number CD 4302, indicating it is a diplomatic vehicle, with four white male occupants took him away without police escort.
