Items thrown into vessel were not engine parts - Witness

Accra, Jan. 24, GNA - A prosecution witness on Wednesday told the Accra High Fast Track Court, hearing the illegal importation of 77 parcels of cocaine into the country that the items thrown into their vessel were not engine parts as he was made to believe earlier. Kingsley Inkoom, a sailor, working with Dashment Fishing Company Limited, as a cook on the MV Benjamin said the chief engineer told him, earlier that they were going to sail to Tema to enable them test the engine of the vessel.

He said having sailed for two weeks from Takoradi to Tema the Chief Engineer informed him that they would soon be taking delivery of some engine parts on the high seas.

Mr Inkoom, who was earlier arrested with six other crew members for allegedly carting cocaine on the MV Benjamin/Adede is now a prosecution witness.

The accused crew members are Pak Bok Sil, 46 year-old Korean Engineer; 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 and Mr Joseph Kojo Dawson, the owner of the vessel and Director of Dashment Fishing Company Limited.

Mr Inkoom, answering questions under cross-examination from the counsel holding brief for the Arhins, Mr Solomon Korli, that it took two days to travel on sea from Takoradi to Tema Counsel: Did you complain why it took such a long time to reach Tema, was the engine faulty?

Mr Inkoom: "I questioned the Chief Engineer and he told me that the engine was being tried and will soon collect some parts." Mr Korli maintained that he did not question why it has taken such a long time to reach their destination since he was aware that the engine was faulty.

Mr Inkoom said he was in the kitchen when he saw some people throwing some items onto their ship and was asked to help in packing them into the hatch.

He said while packing the items he asked Isaac, the third accused person the content of the items but he only replied "77." Counsel: why did you ask about the items?

Mr Inkoom: because I took part in the parking of the items into the hatch, I realized it was not engine parts that was why I asked him about the content of the pa ckage. Isaac did not tell me the content but only the quantity as 77.

Counsel: Are you permitted to go to the hatch?

Mr Inkoom: no but sometimes when we are packing fish and needed more hands then I'm called to give a helping hand. We are not permitted to go the hatch anyhow because air can enter if there are fish in there it can decompose.

Mr Inkoom stated that it was Ben Ndego who discovered the cocaine in the hatch under lock and that he could not remember the person who took his statement in the presence of Mr Asante.

Isaac Arhin, Philip Arhin, Cui and Luo are charged with possessing narcotic drugs without authority and engaging in prohibited business. Dawson, who is being held for using his property for narcotic offence, is facing the charge of engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotics.

All of them pleaded not guilty and are in police custody, while the case has been adjourned to January 29, this year. The case involved the owner of the vessel, MV Benjamin/Adede, Isaac, Philip, Cui and Luo on April 27, 2006, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel, allegedly had in their possession one parcel containing 30 slabs of cocaine each weighing about one kilogram. 24 Jan. 07