The Central Regional Police Command is presently conducting an inquiry into the suspected involvement of a 14-year-old boy in a robbery incident that resulted in him suffering severe machete wounds.
The adolescent suspect came to the attention of authorities while undergoing medical care at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
Residents of Potsin in the Gomoa East District, located in the Central Region, were deeply alarmed when a JHS 2 student named Philip Dadzie was discovered in a wooded area, drenched in blood, on July 26th, 2023. He had sustained grave machete injuries across different parts of his body.
Initially, the young victim recounted to those who came to his aid that he had been attacked by unidentified individuals who had inquired about directions from him while he was out for an early morning jog along the Potsin Dominase road on July 26th, 2023.
News of the incident drew widespread sympathy, prompting community members, even those residing abroad, to offer financial assistance towards his medical expenses.
However, recent revelations have shocked the community. It has now emerged that the teenager’s machete wounds were not a result of an external attack, but rather stemmed from a confrontation between him and security personnel at the Dominase Onion Market, where he was attempting theft.
According to sources close to Citi News, on the mentioned day, the suspect accompanied four older individuals aged between 25 and 30 to the market. When intercepted by one of the market’s security guards, the young suspect brandished a knife and attempted to assault the guard. In response, the security personnel used a machete to fend off the attack, resulting in the suspect being slashed multiple times.
Despite his injuries, the young boy managed to escape the scene. He was later rescued by his accomplices, who left him on the outskirts of the Potsin community and coerced him into providing a false narrative about being attacked.
After media reports on the incident, the market’s security guards took action and revealed the accurate sequence of events to the Potsin police station.
Subsequent to police questioning, the young suspect admitted his involvement in the attempted theft at the market.
Ebo Anderson, a resident who closely followed the case, expressed astonishment at the unexpected twist of events. He said, “We are shocked to hear that a boy of such a young age could engage in such behavior and deceive the entire community into believing that he was indeed attacked.”
The adolescent suspect has been released from the 37 Military Hospital in Accra after receiving treatment. He is currently cooperating with the police investigation, while the remaining older suspects are being pursued by law enforcement authorities.