Criminologist, Professor Ken Attafuah has condemned alleged brutalities meted out to some hawkers in Accra by city guards. In one instance, a mobile phone dealer had his ear almost severed. Another phone dealer has been showing his swollen eye and a badly bruised face to newsmen. Professor Ken Attafuah says the victims could seek redress in court. He told Joy News the allegations, if true, should not be countenanced at all. “These powerful state operators, institutions cannot also take the law into their own hands and begin to behave in ways that are barbaric. “It must be contained by the city authorities themselves. But also those people who are alleging that their rights have been violated; that their civil liberties have been violated; their bodily integrity has been interfered with by the assault, they can press criminal charges but most importantly they can also pursue civil action in the court against the people who perpetrated the violence against them, sue them to recover and to get damages for the wrongs that have been perpetrated against them even as they pursue criminal action,” he said. Meanwhile the AMA says it has suspended the city guard who has been linked to the attacks on the hawkers. The assembly said it was looking for the victims as part of its investigations into the matter and possibly to assist them pay their medical bills. Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana