A-53-year-old car dealer has died in police
custody under mysterious circumstances with
the family accusing the Madina police of
dereliction of duty.
Mr. Joe Tuffour was arrested by the Madina
Police on Good Friday over a car deal that
went bad.
According to family members, the deceased
was denied bail and was kept in police custody
for four days, even when it was apparent he
was not feeling too well.
He died on Wednesday but exactly where he
died has been a subject of controversy.
Family of the deceased told Joy News' Paa
Kwesi Asare that inmates alerted the police that
Joe Tuffuor was dying but the officers on duty
failed to heed to the calls.
It was only after he died that he was picked
and sent to the hospital.
Joy News has information suggesting the victim
was declared "clinically dead" on arrival at the
police Hospital, where he was later rushed to.
A sister to the deceased person told Joy News
that his brother was not even covered after he
was stripped half-naked, when he was put into
cells, adding that his clothes were handed over
to the family.
But the Madina Police have dismissed
allegation the suspect died in cells.
Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent
Owusu Bempah said the suspect only collapsed
in cells and was rushed to the hospital.
He said because he collapsed, it was difficult
for them to wear his clothes for him.
According to him, personnel on duty usually
paid "hourly visits" to inmates of the cells to
find out if everything was right with them,
adding that it was therefore not true that his
men derelict their responsibilities.
He also denied allegations they failed to grant
him bail. He explained that the suspect was
arrested on Good Friday, which was a holiday.
On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, which were
subsequently holidays, the police could not
have granted the suspect bail. He was however,
sent to court on Tuesday and brought back
into custody until the sad incident happened
on Wednesday.
The controversy, notwithstanding, he said they
have begun investigating the matter and would
be "surprised" if the suspect was deemed to
have died in their custody.
