Cocaine trial adjourned due to bad interpretation

Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - Bad interpretation of evidence by a court Interpreter during the trial of the vessel owner and four others in the drug related case, on Thursday compelled the Fast Track High Court to adjourn the matter.

Mr D.K Ameley counsel for Mr Joseph Dawson, owner of the MV Benjamin during the cross-examination of his witness, Mr Joseph Kobina Dawson (Senior) prayed the court to look for a good interpreter to enable his client answer well, questions put to him by the defence. This was after he (Mr. Ameley) had led Mr Dawson (Senior) in evidence. The case was therefore stood down to enable the court to look for a proficient interpreter.

But after the court was unable to get one, it obliged to defence counsel's submission and adjourned the matter to November 26. Dawson, who is standing trial with four crewmembers for the various roles they played in importing the 77 parcels of cocaine on board MV Benjamin, said he did not know that Sheriff was not Mr Charwatey. Isaac Arhin, a 49 year-old sailor, Philip Kobina Bruce Arhin, a 47 year-old mechanic, Cui Xing Li, a 44 year-old Chinese sailor and Luo Yin Xing, a 49 year-old sailor are also on trial.

Isaac Arhin, Philip Arhin, Cui and Luo are charged for possessing narcotic drugs without authority and engaging in prohibited business. Dawson is being held for engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotics.

They have pleaded not guilty and are in Police custody. Led in evidence earlier by Mr Ameley, Mr Dawson (Senior) told the court that Joseph Dawson was his son adding that he, (Mr Dawson Senior) was an advisor to Dashment Company Limited.

According to Mr. Dawson (Senior), the second defence witness, the company owned three vessels namely Azalga 12, Ciceros and MV Benjamin, which dealt in the export and sale of fish.

The defence witness said Dashment bought the MV Benjamin Vessel in April 2000,from one Mr. Bae through a high purchase agreement. According to him, the MV Benjamin was operating at a loss hence the company decided to sell it.

Before then, witness said they called Mr Bae, the owner of MV Benjamin and discussed the losses the company was making. He said some of the problems of the MV Benjamin were faults on the main and auxiliary engines.

As a result, witness said repair works were carried out on MV Benjamin when it was docked in Takoradi. "Despite the repair works the vessel continued to develop fault which the crew on board including the mechanic frequently worked on," witness said.

Mr Dawson (senior) said Dashment Company informed Mr Bae who was then outside the country. Mr Bae, defence witness sa id, returned to the country in February 2006 and after ascertaining that the vessel was running at a loss decided to look for a buyer. Mr Dawson Senior said on February 6, 2006 Mr Bae informed him that he had managed to get a buyer and therefore, "I called my son and we decided to meet them at our lawyer's (Mr Francis Owuo) office in Tema," witness said.

Witness said Mr. Bae, his lawyer one Mr Lumo and another gentleman whom he later got to know as Sheriff Asem Dake also joined them at Mr Owuo's office for the sale and the charter agreements. "Before the signing ceremony, our lawyer, Mr Owuo, identified some lapses in the two agreements and asked that a new one should be prepared but Mr Bae said he had no time and that he was travelling that day." Witness said parties present appended their signatures to the two agreements and pointed out that Sheriff signed for Evans Charwatey, the Managing Director for Atico Fisheries. He said the vessel was going to tow a distressed vessel from Guinea but he was later informed that the vessel had been impounded by the government because of its involvement in the importation of narcotic drugs. Answering questions under cross-examination by Mr William Kpobi, Principal State Attorney, Mr Dawson (senior) denied that they did not meet anywhere to sign the charter and sale agreement on MV Benjamin. 22 Nov. 07