Twenty-two of the 24 suspects arrested by the police in Ashanti in connection with the brutal mob assault and stripping of a woman accused of theft in Kejetia area of the Central Business District in Kumasi, have been bailed.
A video footage showing a young woman stripped naked in broad day light by some men attackers, manhandling, kicking and assaulting her in the full glare of the public, already trending on the social media, has sparked intense public rage, especially from women rights advocates, calling on the police to crack the case and get the perpetrators to face the law.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Henry Agbeve, the Kumasi Central Divisional Crime Officer told the Ghana News Agency that the suspects arrested to assist in investigations, have undergone thorough screening and have been found not to have any hand in the crime.
However, he said two persons are still being held while investigation continues and added that one man whose face showed vividly in the video likely to be of some assistance in the investigative process, is at large.
“But the police is still scrutinizing the video footage, to get all the perpetrators of the dastardly act”.
Giving details of the case, he said, though the incident happened on February 8 this year, the police never got wind of it till three clear days later through the said video and immediately commenced investigations though they had not received any complaint.
This resulted in the arrest of the 24 suspects who were arrested during a swoop in the locality where it was said to have taken place.
Prior to this, DSP Agbeve, said a Nigerian lady (believed to be the victim) was brought to the police station in taxi with signs of brutal battering and reported of being subjected to some physical assault.
She was subsequently given a medical form to the hospital, but the police could only connect the two incidents until when the video became public.
The Crime Officer said the lady has since not showed up and it is unlikely she would apparently due to the stigmatization, but the police is intensifying all efforts to get those involved in the crime.
Meanwhile, DSP Agbeve said the police have been to the scene to find out what the said lady might have stolen, but no one could complaint of any theft.
The video showed graphic signs of the fair-coloured lady with only her brassiere on, as she laid on the ground being kicked in the lower abdomen by the feet of her assailants. They also opened her legs apart to show her private part and prevented her from covering herself when on-lookers tried to give her some clothes to cover herself.