Court orders two to be subpoenaed to testify for suspect

Accra, Aug. 13, GNA - An Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday ordered that a subpoena be served on two persons in respect of the case of three policemen who are being held for their role in the missing 76 parcels of cocaine on board MV Benjamin.

Ms Helena Asaase of Tema Newtown Police Barracks and Mr Martey of Tema Newtown, are to testify as witnesses for Detective Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson, who is being held with two others for aiding Sheriff Asem Dake, the prime suspect in the disappearance of the 76 missing parcels of cocaine.

The three policemen are alleged to have aided Sheriff Asem Dake and refused to arrest him after he had offered them money. Detective Lance Corporal Yabson, GS David Nyarko and General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin, are being held on charges of engaging in prohibited business and corruption by public officer. They have pleaded not guilty but have been remanded into police custody by the court.

A fourth policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Amoah, is on the run. He jumped bail after an Accra Regional Tribunal granted him and his accomplices bail.

At the last sitting of the court, Yabson after opening his defence, informed the court that hw would call two witnesses. But when the case was called on Monday, Yabson said he called one of the witnesses but he did not answer his calls. The court after taking the particulars of the two witnesses issued the subpoena.

The case of the prosecution is that on April 26, last year, MV Benjamin arrived on the high seas of Tema.

The prosecution said the vessel was carrying 77 parcels of cocaine imported by one Sheriff Asem Dake. Soon after the vessel arrived, the parcels of cocaine were offloaded unto two canoes, which sailed to Kpone Beach, near Tema.

Some fishermen, who spotted the canoes became suspicious and called the owner of the canoes.

The owner of the canoes and others informed Sergeant Amoah who was stationed at Tema Newtown. He in turn mobilized the other accused persons and they proceeded to Kpone Beach.

At the beach, the accused persons looked on until Asem Dake offloaded the drugs into a four-wheel vehicle. The accused persons then followed the vehicle to Tema where Dake gave them some money for which they failed to arrest him. Hearing continues on August 16.