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Government to fly Police investigator to Ecuador for facts
finding
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Credible reports reaching Ghanadot revealed that the Government
of Ghana is sending a police investigator to Ecuador to gather
more evidence in connection with the seizure of 61 parcels of
cocaine in Tema five months ago.
A Chief State Attorney, Ms. Cynthia Lamptey told the Accra Fast
Track High Court, over the weekend that they were unable to
obtain the needed collaboration with sister intelligence bodies
in the Ecuadorian police for more evidence.
She added that this has necessitated the decision taken by the
state to make available the needed resources for the police
investigator to go to Ecuador to obtain the necessary evidence
for the commencement of the matter.
Six persons - Augustina Abu, an importer; Yaw Attah Nkansah, a
clearing agent; Alfred Amedzi, managing director of Sedco
Agency; Kennedy Osei and Simon Bede, directors of Sedco Agency
and Francis Addo, a driver, are being held for engaging in
criminal conspiracy.
Abu is also being held for importing narcotic drugs, suspected
to be cocaine.
They have pleaded not guilty to the narcotic-related charges
levelled against them and have been remanded by the court.
In Ms. Lamptey's submissions, she said: "My Lord we have not
succeeded in
obtaining information from our sister intelligence agencies
outside, but we have managed to go through the bureaucratic
procedures of the state to secure the funds for the investigator
to travel to Ecuador for more evidence.
"Under the circumstance, we would ask for a month's
adjournment."
Defence counsel expressed their surprise about the turn of
events.
Mr. Adjei Lartey, one of the defence counsels for Augustina,
said the past five months that the accused persons had been in
custody constituted abuse of their rights and unreasonable delay
in the trial.
"We all know that we don't arrest people and keep them in
custody and go shopping for evidence. That is what the
prosecution is trying to tell the court."
Mr. Lartey contended that they had a lot of witnesses in the
case and suggested that the prosecution should invite those in
Ghana to testify while waiting for the investigator.
"What steps have the prosecution taken to bring officials of
NACOB, CEPS and Police to come and testify in respect of this
case?" he asked.
Mr Lartey said:"This is a ploy to continue to keep the accused
persons in custody. We must remember that justice delayed is
justice denied. There is no justification for prosecution to
seek a month's adjournment."
Mr. C.K. Hoeyi, counsel for Addo, urged the court to revisit his
application for bail and admit his client to bail.
"My Lord, give the case a human face and admit my client to
bail. My client is a mere commercial driver who was contracted
to cart the goods."
The court, however, after listening to the submissions made by
the defence counsel ruled that it still held on to its earlier
decisions made in respect of the bail application adding that it
was mindful of Act 714 which prohibited the court from granting
bail in narcotic cases.
The Court presided over Mr. Justice C.J Honyenuga ruled further
that although it sympathised with the accused persons, five
months did not constitute an unreasonable delay.
"The prosecution should be given the chance to secure the needed
evidence but they should not go to sleep."
It further asked the prosecution to furnish the court with proof
that the investigator had left for Ecuador and if by the time
the investigator had not returned, documents should also be
provided to ensure transparency."
The court therefore adjourned the matter to November 16, this
year.
The facts of the case are that on May 15, this year M/V Maersk
Nolanville docked at Tema Port with containers from Ecuador,
Panama and Spain.
The prosecution said among the containers was one with number
MSAU0118160 manifested to contain 1,880 cartons of chewing gum
imported by Ms Abu of Augustina Abu Enterprise.
The prosecutor said personnel of the Joint Port Control Unit (JPCU)
made up of officers from the Narcotics Control Board; Customs,
Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS); Bureau of National
Investigations (BNI); Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA)
and the Police tagged the said container, which meant that the
container could only be opened by JPCU officers.
At about 1530 hours on May 19, the container was scanned and the
image disclosed that it had some other objects in addition to
its official cargo.
During thorough examination, two bags containing a total of 61
slabs of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine were found
among the cartons of the chewing gum, while, a test of the
substance indicated that it was cocaine.
Ghanadot
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