Out of the 42 people detained by the police in connection with the death Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama, four are women.
They are: Felicia Sarbah, Effiah Manu, Vivian Asahene – Alias Maafia, Anna Gimah and Yaa Asor.
Felicia Sarbah is the woman seen in the video footage of the murder very close to the deceased and it was initially interpreted by the public that she set fire to the body.
However, she is said to have told police that she was only taking photos of the deceased and not setting fire to it.
The suspects were arrested in places such as Awutu Dominase, Diaso, Dunkwa and Cape Coast, all in the Central Region as well as Tarkwa and Sefwi-Wiaso in the Western Region.
In the Ashanti Region, suspects were arrested in Manso Nkwanta, Manso Nkran, Manso Konenyase, Manso-Fahiakobo, Manso-Abuoso and Jacobu.
A Magistrate Court in Cape Coast has remanded seven of the suspects into police custody.
Police say 35 new suspects will be arraigned before court today (Monday, June 5) together with any other suspects who would be arrested before court time today.
The Police say they have a lot of evidence in their possession, which is being currently being processed, for necessary action. He also assured the public that the investigative team was on course to ensure speedy prosecution.
It is believed that the police have interrogated over 100 people already and those not connected to the incident have been released.
Suspects remanded
The suspects remanded are: William Baah (Assemblyman of Denkyira-Obuasi), Bismark Donkor, Phillip Badu, Kofi Nyame, Anthony Amoah and Kofi Badu.
Suspects for court today
The new suspects include: Dolly Kormla, Domeh Francis, Sonu Mawunyo, Sonu Emmanuel, Ernest Ally, Kojo Mfum, Kwesi Buah, Issah Manu and Prince Amponsah.
Others are: Isaiah Manu, Prince Amponsah, Kojo Abebrese, Kofi Ebenezer, Ebenezer Appiah, Felicia Sarbah, Philip Kofi Agyapong, Charles Bosie, Peter Agyapong and Kofi Appiah.
In addition are Emmanuel Gyamfi, Evans Fosu, George Brefo, Prince Fosu, Ato Kwame and John Nyarko.
Nine people arrested in the Ashanti Region over the weekend include Michael Anim, Dickson Agyeman and Dickson Agyeman who were arrested at Manos Nkran.
The rest are Yaa Asor, was arrested at Manso Konenyase, Felix Asamoah, alias Yaw Sarfo, was arrested at Manso-Fahiakobo; Kwaku Nsiah, Anna Gyimah and Effiah Manu were arrested at Manso-Abuoso while Vivian Asahene, alias Maafia, was arrested at Jacobu.
12-year-old boy not criminally liable
A 12-year-old boy was arrested in the Ashanti Region but lawyers say he is not criminally liable due to his age.
Police account of how Captain Mahama was murdered
Narrating the circumstances that led to the murder of Captain Mahama, DCOP Mr Bright Oduro, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said Police investigations revealed that the deceased left the Detachment Base at Diaso for a 20-kilometre jogging and was in civilian clothing but carried his sidearm.
He said the deceased jogged on the main asphalted Diaso-Dominase-Ayanfuri road and on reaching the outskirts of Denkyira-Obuasi, a number of women were selling food items on the roadside, therefore, he stopped and interacted with them and even bought some snails.
DCOP Oduro said while the deceased was taking money from his pocket to pay for the snails, the woman from whom he bought the snails spotted the deceased’s sidearm and called the assembly member of Denkyira-Obuasi on phone and informed him what she had seen.
Therefore, he said, the assembly member, William Baah, without verifying the authenticity of the report, called a motor rider popularly known in the town as ‘Komoko’ and together with one Kwasi Baah, a vulcanizer, they proceeded to the place to confront the deceased.
He said they met the deceased at Denkyira-Obuasi cemetery, which was about one-and-half kilometres from where he bought the snails and accosted him without giving the deceased the opportunity to identify himself.
He said by that time, the message had spread that an armed robber had been sighted and so other people had come around wielding all forms of implements and started attacking the deceased.
While the deceased was being attacked, he made efforts to explain his identity, while at the same time attempting to flee from his attackers, he said.
DCOP Oduro indicated that the deceased was killed around 10 a.m. after brutally assaulting him with clubs, machetes and cement blocks.
He noted that the Police got to the scene of the murder at 10:30 a.m. to pick the corpse.
IGP issues stern warning
Inspector-General of Police, Mr David Asante-Apeatu, has said that the perpetrators of the late Captain Adam Mahama have offended the collective conscience of Ghanaians and described the incident as unacceptable.
“The conduct of the perpetrators of that heinous crime is as abhorrent and barbaric as it is reprehensible and that the Police administration takes a serious view to the unfortunate situation”.
He expressed concern that over the years, innocent victims had lost their lives as a result of mob action, saying all of us are potential victims to this unfortunate growing menace and advised against the blame game.
He said the police had put in measures to eradicate acts of impunity, including enforcement of the law, liaising with other relevant institutions to embark on massive public education and strengthening criminal investigation and community policing.
“Persons who violate the laws of the land in a manner akin to what has happened in the late Captain’s case will be dealt with accordingly”.
He said the police had pledged support to the father of the late Captain Mahama to set up a foundation to manage unfortunate incidents such as mob action.
The IGP said the police administration was prepared to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure that ‘instant justice’ was permanently stamped out of the society.
Police are addressing the concerns of soldiers – CDS
The Military High Command says the Police are currently addressing critical concerns of soldiers following the arrest of 16 suspects connected to the gruesome murder of the late Captain Maxwell Adam Mahama.
Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, said the soldiers were concerned about how the Police would speedily investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the heinous crime.
“I believe the Police are addressing the critical concerns of our soldiers thus, ensuring speedy investigation and prosecution of those involved in this dastardly act because justice delayed is justice denied so that anyone involved will face the full rigours of the law,” he said.
Lieutenant General Akwa said the late Captain Mahama was on authorised operation at Diaso Detachment Base, adding that he was to relieving an officer, who was due for a promotional examination.
The Chief of Defence Staff said the troops at Diaso duly informed the chiefs, assembly members and opinion leaders within the catchment area of their operations.
“The deceased was trying to familiarise himself with his environment when this incident happened,” he said.
Lieutenant General Akwa noted that the murder occurred 15 kilometres away from where the majority of the troops were camped.
The late Captain Mahama was stationed with the Fifth Infantry Battalion and had passed his promotional examination to be elevated to a Major next year.
