Two men appeared in the Dansoman Circuit Court on Thursday, October 31, 2024, on charges relating to the unlawful possession of human body parts, a violation of Section 698(b) of Ghana’s Criminal Offence Act, 1960 (Act 29), amended in 2012.
Alex Frimpong, 24, and Abdul Razak Mohammed, 49, were each charged with the offence after police apprehended them with a human skull in their possession.
Presiding over the case, Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul Baasit entered a plea of not guilty for Alex Frimpong, the first accused, despite his initial guilty plea.
The second accused, Abdul Razak Mohammed, pleaded not guilty.
Details of the Case
According to police records, Frimpong, a mason residing in Pokuase, had reportedly sought spiritual help to improve his financial situation. He was introduced to a man named Nana Atta, who is currently at large, through social media. Nana Atta allegedly presented himself as a fetish priest who could provide assistance but required a human skull for the rituals.
The prosecution stated that on October 25, 2024, Frimpong met Abdul Razak Mohammed, a grave digger at Awudome Cemetery, to obtain the skull.
After payment of GH¢600.00, allegedly transferred by Nana Atta to Mohammed, the skull was handed over to Frimpong.
Later that day, Frimpong was stopped by a police patrol team near Odorgono Secondary School. Upon searching his belongings, officers discovered the human skull in a black backpack. Following his arrest, Frimpong implicated Mohammed as the source, leading to his apprehension.
Court Proceedings and Bail Request
Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, representing the prosecution, argued against bail, citing the ongoing investigation and the need to visit the crime scene at Awudome Cemetery.
He added that the police are still attempting to locate Nana Atta and that granting bail could compromise the investigation. The prosecution also argued that both accused have no permanent residence, raising concerns about their potential failure to appear in court.
Invoking Section 96(5)(a) and (b) of Act 30, the court refused bail for both men, ordering that they remain in police custody until the next hearing on November 15, 2024. The court instructed the prosecution to expedite their investigation and file the necessary disclosures for case management.
Additional Details and Future Steps
The police are actively pursuing Nana Atta, who remains at large. Meanwhile, the human skull, a key piece of evidence, has been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary.
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