The three accused have had their pleas preserved when they appeared before the court presided over by Ms Rosemond Dodua Agyiri.

When the case was called, prosecution led by Detective Inspector Lawrence Anani, said for convenience sake, the Police would prefer that the accused were remanded into Prison custody.

The court obliged the prosecution’s prayer and remanded them into prison custody to reappear on August 24.

Meanwhile a bench warrant issued for the arrest of Michael Ahiavinye and one Buzanga who are at large is still in force.

The case of prosecution was that the complainant is the Reverend Mrs. Comfort Ruth Quartey Papafio, who resides at Takoradi in the Western Region.

Gamelie, Adukonu and Azamete operate their business at Adu-Kojo and Kwasi-Nyarko, all suburbs of Mame Dede in the Eastern Region.

He said on January 17, this year, the complainant reported of her missing husband, Mr Quartey Papafio, from his residence at Kasoa on January 15, this year at about 0733 hours.

Prosecution said on receipt of the complainant, the Police gathered intelligence that the deceased was last spotted at Gameli’s shrine located at the outskirts of Adu Kojo, which led to the arrest of Gameli and Adukonu on April 21, this year.

According to prosecution, a search conducted at Gameli’s shrine revealed two pump action guns, one single barrel gun, eleven packets of cartridges and seven other pieces of the cartridges from his room and two shovels were found hidden at the back of his house.

The Prosecution said during interrogation, Gameli and Adukonu admitted shooting the deceased with the pump-action gun on January 15, this year and buried the corpse at the Shrine.

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He said on April 29, the two led the Police to Power One herbal/Spiritual Centre where the Police identified the deceased’s grave in a makeshift cemetery behind Gameli’s house, adding that the scene was secured and an exhumation order was obtained from the court for that purpose.

Prosecution said on April 30, this year, a Pathologist in the company of Senior Officers from the CID Headquarters, Personnel from the Crime Scene Management Team, Forensic Science Laboratory, Drone Operation and CID/ Headquarters Operational Team together with the two accused to exhume the deceased’s body.

He said when the grave was dug, the decomposed body of Mr Quartey Papafio was removed and it was discovered that his grave was among other graves in the accused’s cemetery, which was well fenced.

Prosecution said investigations disclosed that on December 29, Gameli, Adukonu and Azamete conspired to kill Mr Papafio, hence lured him with the assistance of one Buzanga, also a traditional priest at Kasoa, currently at Large.

Prosecution said before the murder of the deceased, the accused intentionally, made false statement to the deceased and succeeded in collecting GH¢10,650 from him through mobile money under the pretext of conjuring GH¢400,000.00 for him to establish his company.

He said Papafio was invited to the shrine on January 15, this year for purification and in the process Adukonu shot him with Gameli’s gun.

The Prosecution said the accused then drained quantity of Mr Papafio’s blood into a plastic gallon and hide same at the shrine while Gameli took possession of the deceased mobile phones and later buried the deceased with the assistance of Azamate and Michael who is also on the run.

The Prosecution said Gameli and Adukonu allegedly confessed to the Police that the blood in the gallon was a mixture of Papafio and another victim who was also buried among other bodies at the cemetery.

He said the gallon of blood and the body were deposited at the Police morgue for examination.

Mr Anani said the complainant later identified the two mobile phones of the deceased.

The prosecution said the Pathologist gave the cause of death of Mr Papafio as hemorrhagic shock, traumatic amputation and unnatural severe chest pain.

Nana Poku Asi Nyarko, Chief of Sakyikrom, a town near Adeiso in the Eastern region where a fetish priest and his accomplices were arrested for possessing human parts has spoken.

His comments further highlight the trickery and deceit with which embattled fetish priest, Power 1, became resident in the area.

At least three headless bodies were allegedly exhumed in shrines owned by Power 1, the fetish priest, through a high-powered police operation.

How they came to settle in the area

According to Nana Nyarko, Power 1 and his accomplices came to the village under the guise of needing a piece of land for schools and apartments.

According to the chief, they were only to realise later that he had turned the piece of land he acquired into shrines.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Monday, the Nana Nyarko explained he personally didn’t have any interaction with the priest concerning the land.

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He explained that Power 1 got his piece of land from the chief of Adu Kojo who resides in Suhum.

Shortly after taking possession of the land, Nana Nyarko said they realised the structured being raised by Power 1 had weird paintings on them.

He said it didn’t take long for them to notice that people had started getting missing amid mysterious deaths.

Initial Confrontation

Nana Nyarko added that upon noticing the strange happenings, they confronted Power 1 who denied any involvement and further gave the assurance he would help to find the perpetrators.

“They asked us to hold a durbar where curses will be invoked on the culprits but they kept postponing the dates till it never came off,” he said.

Arrest and Relief

Nana Nyarko said the invasion and arrest of Power 1 has brought great relief to the residents in and around Sakyikrom.