Latif Iddrisu, a 55-year-old suspect in the assault case against JoyNews Journalist, has been remanded into custody.

The Accra Circuit Court has remanded 55-year-old Theophilus Thompson in legal custody in connection with the 2018 assault on JoyNews journalist Latif Iddrisu. Thompson, who was detained last week following additional investigations into the long-running issue, was arraigned in court on Monday, June 9, 2025. He will stay in detention until his next appearance on June 18, 2025.

The case, which first gained national and international attention in March 2018, involves the brutal assault of Latif Iddrisu outside the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra while he was covering a protest by supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress.

Theophilus Thompson, who was a police officer at the time of the incident, is suspected of being one of those who aggressively attacked the journalist. The incident left Iddrisu with serious head injuries, including a cracked skull, for which he received significant medical care in Ghana and overseas.

Thompson was arrested following a recent directive from the Attorney General's office urging the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations and implement recommendations from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which had previously found merit in Iddrisu's complaint.

Thompson was charged with inflicting hurt and assault at a Circuit Court hearing presided over by His Honour Emmanuel Essandoh. Prosecutors argued that because of the nature of the offense and the risk of interfering with current investigations, the accused should not be given bail. The court agreed and ordered his remand to detention.

Lead prosecutor ASP Paul Asamoah underlined in court that the prosecution's delay should not diminish the gravity of the allegations. "This is not merely a delayed case; it is a serious violation of a journalist's rights and an attack on press freedom," the lawyer said. "The state must send a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how much time has passed."

The prosecution further claimed that Thompson went into hiding following the incident and only reappeared after his recent retirement from the Ghana Police Service.

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and other press freedom advocates have praised this outcome, calling it "a long-overdue step toward justice." In a news release issued shortly after the court proceedings, the GJA stated: "This remand rekindles hope for journalists who have been abused in the line of duty. Latif Iddrisu's case is symbolic, and justice must be seen to be served."

Latif Iddrisu, who was present in court but declined to talk with the media, has already described how the terrible event harmed his career and health. Throughout his rehabilitation and judicial process, the award-winning journalist has garnered widespread support from civil society groups, international media watchdogs, and human rights organizations.

Public opinion has been highly divided, with many outraged at how long it has taken to charge a suspect. Legal experts contend that the delay demonstrates systemic flaws in the judicial system, particularly in cases involving law enforcement agents.

The case is set to resume on June 18, 2025, when prosecutors will present additional evidence and may call important witnesses, including medical staff and eyewitnesses to the incident.

As the court proceedings continue, the case remains a key test of Ghana's commitment to protecting journalists and upholding justice, regardless of institutional connections or deadlines.

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