Police Tortured Ataa Ayi to Frame Innocent Mechanic – Lawyer
Shocking allegations reveal police coerced false testimony that led to wrongful convictions in high-profile robbery case
- Police allegedly tortured suspects to force false confessions implicating innocent mechanic Yaw Asante Agyekum
- Agyekum was convicted in 2010
- The case exposes serious flaws in police interrogation methods
George Bernard Shaw, the lawyer for Yaw Asante Agyekum, claims that police tortured notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi and his accomplice to force false confessions that wrongly implicated Agyekum.
These coerced statements led to Agyekum’s 35-year sentence in 2010, alongside Ataa Ayi’s 160-year jail term. However, on June 5, 2025, the Court of Appeal overturned Agyekum’s conviction, finally ending his 15-year fight for justice.
In an interview, Shaw revealed chilling details of police brutality during interrogations, stating that both Ataa Ayi and another accused, Nana Owusu, were pressured into naming Agyekum despite his consistent denials.
Shaw emphasized that Agyekum’s only connection to Ataa Ayi was indirect—through shared acquaintances—and that he had even assisted the police in capturing other suspects.
The Appeal Court found the prosecution’s evidence insufficient and noted that Agyekum lacked legal representation during his original trial.
The judges unanimously acquitted him, exposing serious weaknesses in the criminal justice system.
Shaw described the decision as a major vindication for his client and a stark reminder of the dangers of police misconduct in securing convictions.
