DSP Tehoda files application for bail pending trial

Accra, Jan. 25, GNA - Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mrs Gifty Mawuenyegah Tehoda, the Senior Police Officer at the centre of the alleged swapping of cocaine exhibit has filed a fresh application for bail pending trial at the Human Rights Court.

The application was to be heard on Wednesday, but it witnessed a technical error and therefore, could not be heard.

Mr Oliver Dzebel, her counsel, is expected to correct the error.

DSP Tehoda, who is the Deputy Head of Commercial Crimes Unit, Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), was put before an Accra Circuit Court for “abetting to stealing of cocaine.”

However, she was remanded into custody after pleading not guilty before the Court presided over by Mrs Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, and adjourned the case to February 6.

The facts necessitating her arrest indicated that following a directive by Vice President John Dramani Mahama on December 14, 2011, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) begun investigations into the loss of 1,020 grammes of cocaine which was tendered in evidence in court on September 27, 2011.

On September 28, 2011, the defence counsel in the matter stated that the substance found was not cocaine and subsequently prayed the Court to order for a re-testing which the judge upheld the submission.

During the investigations, it was revealed that DSP Tehoda who knew about the swapping of the cocaine knew Nana Ama Martins, the alleged trafficker.

The accused was alleged to have assisted in selling a house belonging to Nana Ama Martins to facilitate swapping of the cocaine and investigations into the matter were still ongoing.

The Human Rights Court presided over by Mr Justice Kofi Essel-Mensah, had granted DSP Tehoda bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties after it upheld an ex-parte motion filed by her counsel that her continued detention constituted an infringement on her human rights as guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution.

She was released on bail but re-arrested.

A Circuit Court trying the accused, Nana Ama Martins, for possession of 1.029 kilogrames of cocaine realised that the substance had turned into baking soda when it was retested at the Ghana Standards Authority.

President John Evans Atta Mills asked the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to investigate the case while the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, also set up a fact-finding committee on the matter.

The Mrs Justice Agnes Dordzie Committee found that the cocaine was swapped before it was tendered in evidence.

The report of the BNI said investigation established strong circumstantial evidence that the cocaine was swapped with the active assistance and facilitation of DSP Tehoda.

The BNI recommended that DSP Kofi Adzei-Tuadzra, in-charge of Police Narcotics Unit, who had responsibility for the security of the cocaine and DSP Tehoda be held responsible for their roles in the disappearance of the exhibit which was kept for three years at the Police Headquarters.