A Police CID at the Juaboso District Police Station in the Western North Region; Maxwell Mafuni is alleged to have done the unthinkable when he threw legality to the wind and did his heart desire by searching a man’s room in his absence, even though he had no search warrant or whatsoever.
Maxwell is alleged to have gone to the house of the former Gyasihene of Juaboso, Nana Kwadwo Gyasi in the company of one community police personnel on February 11, 2020, to conduct a thorough search in the room of the Gyasihene while he was away from the house.
As if that was not sufficient, Maxwell is further alleged to have proceeded to search the rooms of two daughters of Nana Gyasi; Linda Gyasi, and Sarah Gyasi.
According to Sarah who was at home during the search, Maxwell came to the house around 10:00 am in the company of a fair colored community police person and asked of the whereabouts of the father.
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She said when she told the police officer that the father had gone to the farm, he rained insults on her, and rushed to the father’s room, banging the doors. From there, he proceeded to her room, searched there, and proceeded to her sister Linda’s and searched there too.
According to Sarah, Maxwell believed that her father had been hidden in one of the rooms hence his search. But not finding the father, he walked away furiously. She indicated that she could not follow him into any of the rooms because of how furious Maxwell was and more so as he was wielding a gun.
Nana Gyasi on his part told this medium that on his return, he noticed that his room had been ransacked with his mattress overturned. So he complained to the Chief of Eluibo Nana Anim Baffour II who urged him to exercise patience.
According to Nana Gyasi Maxwell once called him on the phone when he was out of town, saying that a complaint had been lodged against him at the station. Nana Gyasi maintained that on his return, he called Maxwell back and the Police Officer told him that when he needed him, he would invite him. “I never heard from you again! Then, when I have gone to my farm, you come searching for my room, for what? !!! Nana Gyasi exclaimed.
When the Commander of the station, Supt. Samuel Ntosoh was contacted, he said the allegation was not true. However, Nana Gyasi, while insisting that it was true, indicated the Commander had not come to the station then. It was later gathered that the Commander has to be in office for just four (4) months.
Arrest, Handcuff, and Detention
According to Nana Gyasi, a week later February 18, 2020, around 6:00 am, six (armed) policemen led by Maxwell stormed his house and whisked him to the Juaboso Police Station from where he was sent to the Divisional Headquarters at Wiawso in handcuffs till 5:00 pm when he was detained. Then the following day, he was released from cells, handcuffed once more till about 5:00 pm when he was finally granted bail.
Nana Gyasi explained that his arrest was premised on the claim by one Uncle Sammy that Nana Gyasi had threatened to kill him. Also, Sammy alleged that Nana Gyasi was winning sand on his (Sammy’s) land. Claims that turned out to be false after police investigations. Nana Gyasi stated that when Uncle Sammy was asked to give proof of the issue, he told the police that the last time he had an encounter (brawl) with Nana Gyasi was in 2016. Also, the sand winning allegation turned out to be false, Nana Gyasi stated.
By S. O. Ankamah || Sefui Juaboso, WNR