The Tema TDC District Court, chaired by Her Worship Benedicta Antwi, on Monday, this week, discharged four accused persons standing trial for the murder of Mrs Josephine Asante, Marketing and Public Affairs Manager at Tema Port, of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
The accused are Richard Kwabena Kwakye, aka Kwabena Boateng, Dominic Owusu, Christian Adjei and Frederick Owusu Oppong, aka Kojo Owusu.
Prior to discharging the accused persons, the prosecution read the advice from the Attorney General’s Office, prepared by Senior State Attorney, Joshua Sackey.
The advice reads: “I am of the opinion that suspects have been rounded up based on suspicions and not material evidence, linking them to the offence.
“Charging them with the serious offence like murder based on suspicion alone is not appropriate since mere suspicion is not enough to sustain a criminal offence.
“Nobody actually witnessed the offence being committed. There are too many doubts regarding who actually murdered the deceased.
“Based on the insufficient evidence on the docket, the suspect can’t be charged with offense, you have to discharge them.”
On Sunday January 13, 2019 when Mrs Asante’s body was found in her Emefs Hillview Estates, near Afienya, in the Ningo Prampram District, her houseboy, Christian Agyei, was the first to be arrested at the time the local Emefs Police Station was incharge of the case.
Barely 48 hours later, the Tema Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took over the high profile inquisition and the GPHA official driver assigned to her, Amos Apeku, was also picked.
At the scene, the Crime Scene Management Team picked certain vital information relating to semen.
Hours after the media brought it out, the CID Headquarters requested for the docket from the Tema Regional CID and handed the investigation to the Homicide Unit.
The following day, the Public Relations Department debunked the claim of the presence of suspected semen at the scene as police in Tema briefed the probing newsmen.
In late 2021, the Police Administration established the Cold Case Unit to deal with the unsolved murders, including Mrs Josephine Asante and Ahmed Suale.
The new unit was eventually handed the mantle to resolve the case.
On January 26, 2023, the Tema TDC District Court discharged the two suspects, Christian and Amos on the advice of the Attorney General’s Office.
Personnel of the CCU who were present at the premises of court, re arrested them to continue to assist with investigations.
Then on March 31, 2023 Police arrested suspect Kwabena Kwakye, aka Kwabena Boateng, followed by suspect Dominic Owusu on April 13, 2023.
Frederick Owusu Oppong, aka Kojo Owusu, also followed in that order.
