The Ashanti Regional Police Command has confirmed the arrest of nine 'machomen'at Yinka hotel in Bekwai in the Ashanti region.

They are alleged to have been hired by the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Kofi Adusei Poku to terrorize the supporters of his challenger, Joe Osei-Wusu who is running as an independent Parliamentary candidate.

The suspects, allegedly armed with guns, knives, and cutlasses have since been granted police enquiry bail upon the instructions of the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Ayensu Opare Addo, while investigation goes on.

Speaking in an interview with The Statesman, DCOP Ayensu Opare Addo explained that he granted all the nine suspects bail because they were not engaged in any criminal activities at the time of their arrest at Yinka Hotel but were just there in the hotel.

"They were released on bail because as I am speaking to you right now we have found nothing criminal against them that will warrant their continuous detention in our custody”, the commander stated but said he had ordered for an urgent investigation into the case.

Asked whether the suspects have linked their stay at he hotel with Kofi Adusei Poku as being speculated, DCOP Opare Addo who was economical with his statement said “I only know that they are heavily built young guys but I do not know if they were brought in here from Nima or brought in by the MP, what I know for sure is that we had a hint about their stay at the hotel and arrested them”.

He said his outfit will not act upon mere rumours that the young men were there to do business for the MP and detain them.

He also told this paper that the MP, Kofi Adusei Poku was yet to make any statement to the police in connection with the arrest and his being linked with them. The Regional Commander however assured that “my men are on the ground and we will fish out anyone whose activities are suspect and could cause mayhem for the good people of Bekwai and the entire region”.

However, the Constituency Chairman, C O Arthur, who also spoke to this paper in an interview, confirmed the presence of the macho men but said “I was the one who brought these men to the constituency to protect us and not Mr. Kofi Adusei Poku, I repeat not Mr Poku.”

“You people should not create problems for the MP; I made the request because anywhere that we go we get harassed so these men are here to protect us for us to do our campaign effectively and not to cause mayhem, Mr. Poku has no knowledge about what you people want to link him with. He is clean and innocent.”


Source: Statesman