Accused implicate BNI in cocain case
Gilbert Boyefio
05/06/2008
Emmanuel Kwaku Darkey, the man standing trial for attempted export of cocaine contained in 60 cans of palm oil with a street value of $3million has accused the Bureau of National Investigation and one Michael Osei for framing him up.
He further alleged that on October 16, 2007, the BNI disrespected a cocoa affairs court order for him to be put in police custody and instead put him in their cell and took pictures of him which they circulated to the media.
He told an Accra Fast Track High Court that he was not guilty of the charges preferred against him. He said he has never exported any narcotics out of Ghana and that he is a genuine and well respected exporter.
He said at the time of his arrest at the airport, he did not see any palm oil cans concealed in a box of chili pepper. He said only one box was open in his presence but could not see the quantity it contained. He questioned why the alleged cans of cocaine were tested by NACOB officials instead of the Ghana Standard Board who is charged with that duty.
Darkey told the court that he expressed surprised when later at the BNI office three more boxes containing chili pepper and some can palm oil were shown to him.
Answering questions from the prosecution yesterday after he has given his evidence in chief, Mr Darkey denied knowledge of the content in the palm nut cans labelled as Ghana Fresh Palm nut Cream concentrate.
He explained that the 60 cans of palm nut were given to him by Michael Osei, another exporter he met at the AFGO terminal, to be added to his vegetables consignment to be exported to the UK. He said he took the 60 cans of palm nut to his packager to package it with his vegetables for export.
When asked whether he knew the content of the package he replied in the negative. He said it was not his duty to check the product.
He explained that what normally happens was that if someone wants him to export something from him; he meets the person at the airport and takes what ever is to be exported.
He said he does not do any background check of the people he export things for, since there is no time to do that. "In Ghana, vegetables exports normally do not start by knowing the company you are about to do business with. You mostly meet the people at the airport and they want you to export something for them," he added.
He said the pallet in which the product was to be exported belong to Akuapemaa Excellency who were aware about it. He admitted stating in his statement that he told one Frank Bekoe that he was sending a foreign package with their products.
Darkey said the package was destined for Deutschen Market in UK to an Afghan shop.
When question why he omitted certain facts in his first statement to the police when arrested, he said he was disoriented at the time and could not remember a lot of things. He said he did not mention Michael Osei because he was confused.
Emmanuel Darkey, 50, exporter, and Kirk Patrick Akoto Bekoe, 28, a freight forwarder, were arrested at the Aviance Cargo Village at the Kotoka International Airport in connection with the cocaine. Akoto Bekoe was later discharged for lack of evidence.
Darkey has pleaded not guilty and has since been remanded into prison custody.
The case has been adjourned to June 13 for continuation of cross examination.
05/06/2008
Emmanuel Kwaku Darkey, the man standing trial for attempted export of cocaine contained in 60 cans of palm oil with a street value of $3million has accused the Bureau of National Investigation and one Michael Osei for framing him up.
He further alleged that on October 16, 2007, the BNI disrespected a cocoa affairs court order for him to be put in police custody and instead put him in their cell and took pictures of him which they circulated to the media.
He told an Accra Fast Track High Court that he was not guilty of the charges preferred against him. He said he has never exported any narcotics out of Ghana and that he is a genuine and well respected exporter.
He said at the time of his arrest at the airport, he did not see any palm oil cans concealed in a box of chili pepper. He said only one box was open in his presence but could not see the quantity it contained. He questioned why the alleged cans of cocaine were tested by NACOB officials instead of the Ghana Standard Board who is charged with that duty.
Darkey told the court that he expressed surprised when later at the BNI office three more boxes containing chili pepper and some can palm oil were shown to him.
Answering questions from the prosecution yesterday after he has given his evidence in chief, Mr Darkey denied knowledge of the content in the palm nut cans labelled as Ghana Fresh Palm nut Cream concentrate.
He explained that the 60 cans of palm nut were given to him by Michael Osei, another exporter he met at the AFGO terminal, to be added to his vegetables consignment to be exported to the UK. He said he took the 60 cans of palm nut to his packager to package it with his vegetables for export.
When asked whether he knew the content of the package he replied in the negative. He said it was not his duty to check the product.
He explained that what normally happens was that if someone wants him to export something from him; he meets the person at the airport and takes what ever is to be exported.
He said he does not do any background check of the people he export things for, since there is no time to do that. "In Ghana, vegetables exports normally do not start by knowing the company you are about to do business with. You mostly meet the people at the airport and they want you to export something for them," he added.
He said the pallet in which the product was to be exported belong to Akuapemaa Excellency who were aware about it. He admitted stating in his statement that he told one Frank Bekoe that he was sending a foreign package with their products.
Darkey said the package was destined for Deutschen Market in UK to an Afghan shop.
When question why he omitted certain facts in his first statement to the police when arrested, he said he was disoriented at the time and could not remember a lot of things. He said he did not mention Michael Osei because he was confused.
Emmanuel Darkey, 50, exporter, and Kirk Patrick Akoto Bekoe, 28, a freight forwarder, were arrested at the Aviance Cargo Village at the Kotoka International Airport in connection with the cocaine. Akoto Bekoe was later discharged for lack of evidence.
Darkey has pleaded not guilty and has since been remanded into prison custody.
The case has been adjourned to June 13 for continuation of cross examination.
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