Lawyer for the aggrieved ModernGhana journalists Samson Lardi Anyenini has served notice that the said journalists who were allegedly tortured by National Security operatives while in detention, will initiate legal action against the State Security agency.
Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri who’s the Editor of online news portal ModernGhana.com who was arrested together with another colleague last week was released on Saturday 29 June 2019.
He claimed that they were tortured and beaten by National Security operatives while in detention following a raid of their office and their subsequent arrest. Abugri and his colleague were arrested for “engaging in cyber-crimes.” according to the National Security.
“When we were picked up, we were taken to a place for questioning. When it so happens that my answers were unfavourable to them, I was slapped. I was slapped severally.
“I was abused and tortured by the National Security Operatives. My friend, I cried like a baby.”
The National Security, however, denied physically abusing the duo, describing the claims “clear and deliberate” attempt by the suspect to discredit the investigations and the case against him.
“Torture and manhandling of suspects are not part and parcel of the culture and architecture of the secretariat under the administration of President Akufo-Addo,” a statement from National Security said.
But speaking to Francis Abban on Starr FM Wednesday, Lawyer Lardi Ayenini said the aggrieved journalists whose human rights have been violated will assert their rights in court through a civil process.
“If you find out that there’s reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing by people particularly criminal offense the law enforcement must take its course, but they must do their work according to the book and what we know so far they didn’t do their work according to the book. And so one of my colleagues is in the process of preparing the process so that these reporters can also assert their rights through the civil process. You know Ghanaian attitude something has happened he’s been released and once they have been released don’t bother, I think when we do that we allow the rogue elements in security organizations to continue to perpetrate such wrongs against the ordinary citizens. This must not happen to journalists, so a process will be commenced and they will also assert their right through a civil process.”
