Simon Dorve, 41, a prime suspect in the murder of Christopher Alavi, a 31-year-old man from Ziope, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging in police cells at Akatsi in the Volta Region.
Simon Dorve, a fetish priest, and resident of Wlitey-Agamakope, until his demise, was in police custody together with two other suspects for allegedly masterminding the murder of Alavi, who had gone missing for several months.
A police source confirmed that the suicide and that the body had been taken to the Ho Teaching Hospital Morgue by a team from the Volta Regional Police Command for further examination.
Mrs Lisah Dorve, a sister of Alavi, told the Ghana News Agency that the Akatsi South Police Command had informed the family about the death.
The sister said when the family members arrived at the police station, they were taken to the toilet room within the police cells, where the incident allegedly occurred.
She said reports also indicated that Alavi had used a duster meant for cleaning the toilet to hang himself on a fan holder.
Some residents of Akatsi South said they were skeptical about the emerging development.
Further information gathered showed that two suspects, Godfred, a student, and Ahomey Gbeti, also a fetish priest, had earlier been arrested for having in their possession some belongings of the Alavi, who had then gone missing.
After interrogation, Ahomey Gbeti confessed to having committed the crime with Simon Dorve, in whose custody Alavi’s motorbike and body were later found and retrieved.
Simon Dorve was arrested at Wlitey-Gamakope to assist in investigations.
However, the Akatsi Magistrate’s Court had remanded in police custody the suspects, who are expected to reappear on March 13.
Alavi went missing after he left home to attend a family meeting at Lume Ahugakope, on September 7, 2023.