Tagor and co to breathe freedom soon
Gilbert Boyefio
25/11/2006
Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, and two other persons allegedly accused of dealing in narcotics will soon breathe the air of freedom after the Attorney General's Department enters a nolle prosequi (a decision not to proceed with the case) on Monday.
The three, Kwabena Amaning, Alhaji Issah Abass and Kwabena Acheampong had pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them and have since been in Police custody.
A fourth person, Yaw Kisseh, also known as Yaw Billa, had earlier been released for lack of evidence.
The three are facing several charges including conspiracy to import narcotic drugs without authority from the Minister of Health; engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs; importing 78 parcels of narcotic drugs without authority from the Minister of Health; and establishing and promoting enterprises relating to narcotic drugs.
This action comes barely a week after the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal discharged four other accused persons in the MV Benjamin cocaine saga on similar grounds.
One of the accused persons, Kwadwo Ababio, was also discharged by the court on October 2, 2006 after a Chief State Attorney, Gertrude Aikins, withdrew charges against him.
Several attempts by the accused persons to get bail proved futile.
The trial Judge has been on leave since November 3, 2006, and from that time, the case has been postponed on two occasions, up until Monday November 20, 2006, when the AG"s Office entered the nolle prosequi.
At the last sitting on October 9, 2006, Chief State Attorney, Gertrude Aikins, who was in court for the first time since the case started, failed to provide new evidence to the court. She pleaded with the court for more time to allow further investigations into the case.
She told the court that looking at the nature and circumstances surrounding the case, the AG's office needed to wait for the report of the Georgina Wood Committee - set up to investigate the disappearance of almost two tonnes of cocaine from the MV Benjamin and review it in line with the charges against the accused persons. This, she noted, together with evidence available to the prosecution, will form a stronger docket with which to provide the evidence the court would need to convict the accused persons.
She informed the court of the prosecution's intention to send the case to the Fast Track Court. She said this decision had been taken due to the fact that the Circuit Court had not been automated, and this would serve to delay proceedings. She therefore asked the court for a date that would coincide with the opening of the High Court.
The facts of the case are that in November last year, a large quantity of cocaine was imported into the country through the Tema Port on board a vessel, the MV Benjamin.
When the vessel berthed at the port, the security agencies got wind that there were 78 parcels of cocaine on board but when they intercepted it, only one parcel was found.
The accused persons were arrested in the course of investigations because their names were linked to the missing cocaine.
25/11/2006
Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, and two other persons allegedly accused of dealing in narcotics will soon breathe the air of freedom after the Attorney General's Department enters a nolle prosequi (a decision not to proceed with the case) on Monday.
The three, Kwabena Amaning, Alhaji Issah Abass and Kwabena Acheampong had pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them and have since been in Police custody.
A fourth person, Yaw Kisseh, also known as Yaw Billa, had earlier been released for lack of evidence.
The three are facing several charges including conspiracy to import narcotic drugs without authority from the Minister of Health; engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs; importing 78 parcels of narcotic drugs without authority from the Minister of Health; and establishing and promoting enterprises relating to narcotic drugs.
This action comes barely a week after the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal discharged four other accused persons in the MV Benjamin cocaine saga on similar grounds.
One of the accused persons, Kwadwo Ababio, was also discharged by the court on October 2, 2006 after a Chief State Attorney, Gertrude Aikins, withdrew charges against him.
Several attempts by the accused persons to get bail proved futile.
The trial Judge has been on leave since November 3, 2006, and from that time, the case has been postponed on two occasions, up until Monday November 20, 2006, when the AG"s Office entered the nolle prosequi.
At the last sitting on October 9, 2006, Chief State Attorney, Gertrude Aikins, who was in court for the first time since the case started, failed to provide new evidence to the court. She pleaded with the court for more time to allow further investigations into the case.
She told the court that looking at the nature and circumstances surrounding the case, the AG's office needed to wait for the report of the Georgina Wood Committee - set up to investigate the disappearance of almost two tonnes of cocaine from the MV Benjamin and review it in line with the charges against the accused persons. This, she noted, together with evidence available to the prosecution, will form a stronger docket with which to provide the evidence the court would need to convict the accused persons.
She informed the court of the prosecution's intention to send the case to the Fast Track Court. She said this decision had been taken due to the fact that the Circuit Court had not been automated, and this would serve to delay proceedings. She therefore asked the court for a date that would coincide with the opening of the High Court.
The facts of the case are that in November last year, a large quantity of cocaine was imported into the country through the Tema Port on board a vessel, the MV Benjamin.
When the vessel berthed at the port, the security agencies got wind that there were 78 parcels of cocaine on board but when they intercepted it, only one parcel was found.
The accused persons were arrested in the course of investigations because their names were linked to the missing cocaine.
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