Minister: 'Killer� Was In My House

Deputy Minister for the Brong Ahafo Region and one-time MP for the Asunafo South constituency, Eric Opoku, has admitted that a murder suspect, Kwasi Adu, was indeed grabbed in his house by the police on Friday night. The suspect Sankore killer was arrested by the police upon a tip-off that he had made the deputy minister�s Sakumono flat his haven since he ran away from justice after he allegedly shot and killed an evangelist, Kwame Nyame. Several discrepancies have contributed to the confused state of the story, especially with the decision by the Police not to comment further on the subject and the deputy minister�s version spotting inconsistencies. Even though Eric Opoku had earlier denied that he knew the suspected murderer, yesterday he told newsmen that Kwasi Adu was known to him. Investigations by Daily Guide suggested that Kwasi Adu, 22, told the Police in a statement following his arrest that he was a mason and a resident of Alhaji Tabora, a suburb of Accra. He said he went to the Deputy Minister�s Sakumono residence to pay him a visit having heard on phone that the man was in town on Friday at about 4.00pm.According to the Sakumono Police Station Crime Officer, ASP Michael Addae, the suspect was spotted in the deputy minister�s sitting room but upon sighting the Police, he dashed to the bathroom where he was nabbed at about 9.15pm. The officer added that the suspect did not live in the deputy minister�s house and admitted that he was part of the group that caused commotion in Sankore, but denied shooting the deceased. He however admitted the report of the gunshot from a different location and the Police said no offensive weapons were found on the suspect on the day he was picked up. Advising that the arrest should not be politicized, the officer said the suspect was being held for the fact that he allegedly killed someone. The deputy minister on the other hand claimed foul play in the arrest of the suspect.He told newsmen that, he thought that the suspect was hoodwinked into going to his house, so he could be arrested and have him linked to the criminality. While earlier reports had it that at the time the suspect got to the Sakumono house the deputy minister was not at home, the man Eric Opoku himself stated that he was outside the house with his wife when Kwasi Adu arrived, accompanied by a brother. As soon as the suspect sat down to explain that he had got a call claiming that the minister sought to see him, there was a knock on the door.Continuing he said, �Kwasi Adu himself walked to the door and then saw a boy from Sankore and the driver of the current MP for Asunafo South, Hon. George Boakye, and some policemen and they said they wanted to arrest Kwasi Adu. So my driver called me and said I should talk to the policemen to see what could be done.� The deputy minister said the police came with a torchlight and a camera which he found unusual. He therefore asked why an arresting squad would carry a camera. He said he never said he did not know the suspect, adding that he knew him as an NDC member who was part of his campaign during the 2008 elections.