Witness: I do not know circumstances leading to Mobilla's death

Accra, July 20, GNA - Detective Inspector Anthony Kweku Kupor, on Wednesday told a Fast Track High Court in Accra that he did not know the circumstances leading to the death of Alhaji Issa Mobilla, former Northern Regional Chairman of the Convention People's Party.

According to the police officer, the forth prosecution witness, it was those who were on duty at the Kamina Barracks, Tamale, who could tell the circumstances that led to the death of Alhaji Mobilla.

Insp. Kupor said he could also not tell how the deceased sustained marks of violence and assault on his body. The witness was answering questions under cross-examination in the cas= e in which Corporal Yaw Appiah and Private Eric Modzaka are facing two charge= s of conspiracy to murder and murder of Mobilla on December 9, 2004. Answering questions by Mr Thaddeus Sory, Counsel for the accused persons, Insp. Kupor told the court that there were no documents indicating the transfer of Mobilla from the Police cells to the Kamina Barracks. Soon after the Board of enquiry report had been tendered through Insp. Kupor, he (Insp. Kupor) admitted that he did not state in the report that Corporal Appiah told the deceased to squat after undressing himself so that the deceased could be sent to the guard room.

Witness said that it was normal procedure for a suspect to be ordered to undress before being led to cell or guard room. Earlier on, Insp. Kupor, who was led in evidence by Ms Merley Wood, Chief State Attorney, told the court that on December 9,2004, he was on dut= y at the Criminal Investigation Department, Tamale. Witness said he received a message from his Station Officer, Mr Wilson to remove Mobilla from the cells to the Kamina Barracks. According to Insp. Kupor, when he asked who he should handover the deceased to, the driver who is also a policeman, told him that Regional Military Commander was about to transfer Alhaji Mobilla to the Barracks. Insp. Kupor said he together with Sergeant Kigili (the investigator), Sergeant Mathias and another Inspector were asked to send the deceased to the barracks. On reaching the barracks, witness said Mobilla walked briskly to the guard room where they met Corporal Appiah and Private Modzaka and third person who was not present in court. =91My Lord Corporal Appiah asked the deceased to undress leaving his panties and he asked Mobilla to squat,' witness said. Insp. Kupor said later they met one Warrant Officer (WO) Paul Abu, who also accompanied them to the guard room.

According witness, the WO inspected Mobilla's body before accepting h= im into the guard room and they returned to the office. On December 10, 2005, witness said he was informed by his station officer that Mobilla was dead and he had been sent to the mortuary at Tamal= e Teaching Hospital so he and others should go and verify that. Witness said on reaching there, watchmen at the mortuary confirmed the death. Insp Kupor said a police photographer, who accompanied them, took photograph of the deceased's body adding 93We inspected the body of the deceased and found out marks of violence from head to toe". 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 hi= s 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 accused persons have 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 case has been adjourned to July 28.