Daasebre's Trial Begins in London

The Isleworth Crown Court in London on Monday began the trial of Ghanaian hip-life star, Daasebre Gyamena for narcotic offences.

Gyamena was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport in the early hours of Thursday, June 29 by security and customs officials for possessing substances suspected to be cocaine with a street value of 84,988 pounds, when he disembarked from a British Airways flight from Accra.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of illegally importing two kilogrammes of narcotic substances suspected to be cocaine into the United Kingdom.

Dressed in a brown jacket over a yellow shirt and looking very composed, Daasebre was brought to court at about midday and was present throughout the five-hour proceedings.

The prosecution informed the court it would be calling on five witnesses to prosecute its case, and they include a Ghanaian, Patrick Kwadwo Donkor, also known as Kumasi Market.

Other prosecution witnesses include forensic and security/intelligence experts while Daasebre is also expected to rely greatly on the evidence of one of his business producers, Fred Nuamah, expected to submit a statement to the court on Tuesday.

The court has already empanelled a twelve-member, all whites jury for the trial made up of six men and equal number of women, selected randomly by computers. The renowned musician was arrested by UK customs officials aided by sniffer dogs and has since been remanded in custody.

He was originally arraigned before the Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court for procedural trial before being committed to the Crown Court on August 8.

The Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court lacked jurisdiction over the case due to the nature of the offence. The Isleworth Crown Court is the next highest court in the area, which deals with such serious offences as drug cases.

Counsel for Daasebre Gyamena, Mohammed Reza Ally, earlier told the court of the need to bring two witnesses from Ghana to testify in the case and therefore prayed the court that a date in November would be more suitable than an initial October date.

Reza Ally was hopeful his client stood a good chance of being discharged based on evidence he had gathered from Ghana and in the UK.

Daasebre faces a minimum ten-year jail term if found guilty of the charge.