Accra, Nov. 5, GNA - A Fast Track High Court on Wednesday tasked the prosecution in the case of the 380 slabs of cocaine seized at Ataabadze Junction last June to expedite action on the Ghana Standard Board (GSB) report on the substance.
The court gave the order when it admitted to bail Charles Lartey, one of four accused persons, in the sum of GH¢ 50,000 cedis with a surety. Lartey, 33, was further ordered to report to the Police at the Criminal Investigations Department every Tuesday and Thursday.
Meanwhile his colleagues, Samuel Agoe Mills Robertson, a 49-year old auto mechanic, Derrick Armah Kwarteng, a 49-year old contractor and David Ayemera, alias Chuku Owura, a 30-year old herbalist, have been remanded into prison custody to reappear on November 12.
The court is yet to take their pleas.
When the case was called at the Fast Track high Court, Assistant State Attorney Mr Paul Asibi Abarigah, told the court that, they had not received the GSB report on the substance.
According to Mr Abarigah, when he cross-checked with GSB, he was informed that the report had been delivered to the Ghana Police Service but the Service also denied receiving it.
He said another letter had therefore been written to GSB and prayed for a week's adjournment to enable them to get the report on the drugs to ascertain what they were.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice C. J. Hornyoyegah, a Court of Appeal Judge, asked: "How soon are you likely to receive the report?" Mr Abarigah: "My Lord we pray for a week."
The court: "It is better to let the case be heard instead of keeping the accused person in custody. As soon as the report is received I will sit on a day-to-day basis. No more excuses, so go and do your homework well."
The four accused persons who were arrested in connection the haul were initially put before an Accra Circuit Court. The four are being held for conspiracy to commit crime and possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority. The facts are that on June 28, Kwarteng contracted Robertson to cart cocaine from Asankragua in the Western Region to Accra for a fee of 40,000 dollars and he agreed. The prosecution said Robertson therefore recruited two people, Agyemfra and Mike Eben, as escort for the drug. On that same day, Robertson used his Toyota Saloon car with registration number GW 31 Z and conveyed Agyemfra and Eben to Asankraguaa where they met Kwarteng at a hotel. Kwarteng also handed over a four-wheel drive vehicle with registration number GR 1204 y loaded with 19 travelling bags each containing 20 slabs totalling 380 slabs of suspected cocaine to Robertson and his escorts. Robertson drove the consignment with Agyemfra and Eben, who were on board, as security to Takoradi where they stayed overnight. The prosecution said on Sunday, the Cape Coast Highway Police Patrol team from the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit intercepted the vehicle, which had on board Robertson, Kwarteng and Agyemfra. However, Agyemfra and Eben escaped into the bush but the police managed to arrest Robertson.
When a search was conducted 19 travelling bags containing 20 slabs of whitish powdery substance suspected to be cocaine were found. The prosecution said during police interrogation Robertson offered the Police 6,000 dollars in order to free him. Robertson therefore called Lartey who was in Accra to bring the amount but as soon as Lartey arrived the Police arrested him. Agyemfra and Kwarteng were spotted in a saloon car near the Police station and they were also arrested. Robertson further told the Police that the drug belonged to Kwarteng but he had denied.
