Police brutality: Family to sue IGP over remand relative’s death

The family of the 40-year-old Collins Merz who died in the cells of the Ashanti Regional Police command have served notice that they will sue the Inspector General of Police David Asante Apeatu over the suspected death of their kindred.

Collins was arrested by the police about a month earlier on suspicion of being part of a robbery gang.

He was subsequently transferred to the Central Police Station in Kumasi for prosecution but died in Police custody.

Brother of the deceased, Richard Merz, who spoke on Otec fm  breakfast show Programme, ‘Nyansapo’ on Friday, 31 August 2018 that some bruises were found on the remains of his late brother and they suspect he was tortured to death by the police.

He said the deceased was healthy prior to his remand and the family was not informed of his death before the body was taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital morgue.

Mr Merz said his brother’s death was only announced to them by the Regional Police Commander after they had gone to the police station to look for him.

He alleged that the police intentionally killed Collins Merz, adding that the family will head to court to seek justice.

The deceased, who was a drinking bar operator, was arrested at his residence at Tepa last month on suspicion that he was part of a gang of armed robbers terrorising people in the area.

He was subsequently transferred to the Central Police Station in Kumasi for prosecution.

He was remanded in police custody after being put before court and later died while in cells.

“The torturing started at the Tepa Police Station. They packed his body with ice blocks for about four hours to impress upon him to admit that he was part. So we petitioned the region that the way the Tepa Police Command was handling the case we don’t think we can have justice and fair trial. So we want the regional command to take over the docket and do thorough investigations.

“And, we didn’t know that that was the lion’s den. We didn’t know the regional police command was the lion’s den. My brother went there last Tuesday, today is Thursday he’s dead. He died and they took him to the mortuary without informing the family and we all believe that Ghana is a country that has accepted democratic principles,” he narrated.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com