Journalist attacked by "cocaine baron's hitmen"

Accra, Aug. 16, GNA -- A photojournalist was on Wednesday attacked at the 24th February Road Courts by people suspected to be sympathisers of Tibu-Darko, who was picked up by the security agencies for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs.

The Photojournalist, Mr Ebo Hanson, who works with the 93Daily Graphic=94, was in the line of duty trying to take photographs of the accused person when a group of people numbering about 10 pounced on him, hit his chest, slapped and pushed him down.


They demanded his digital camera and realising that they could damage it he handed it over to one of them and he took the memory chip containing the day's photos he had taken away and handed the camera back to him.


This happened after the court's proceedings while the accused person was in the company of his well-wishers, some of whom were in Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana National Fire Service uniforms in the courtyard.


Mr Hanson said he was ready to take a shot of the accused person when he realized that a group of people had rushed on him hitting, slapping and pushing him to the ground.


"They wanted to spoil my camera so I left it to them and one of them took away the memory chip and handed it back to me.

"People just looked on as I was attacked. My attackers drove away in their Golf, BMW and Opel Vectra vehicles with the registration numbers GT 8347 X; ER 1040 U and GR 3748 U."


Tibu-Darko, 49, owner of Koreana Hotel, who was picked up by the security agencies for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs, was remanded in custody for the second time by an Accra Circuit Court.


Tibu-Darko, who also owns Kamoney Forex Bureau all in Tema, is facing a charge of doing a prohibited business relating to narcotics. The Court did not take his plea and remanded him to reappear on August 23.


His remand followed submission by the Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police George Abavelim, who prayed for time to conduct further investigations into the matter.


According to Mr Abavelim the Police after mounting surveillance needed some time to conclude their investigations. "This matter is a delicate one and the Police need some time to unravel the truth," he said.

Earlier Tibu-Darko's counsel, Mr Gabriel Pwamang said he wondered why the Police were still keeping the accused adding that the action of the Police was based on rumours and suspicion. According him, the Police were abusing his client's rights by detaining him for a long time.


He said the Police had searched his client's house and offices and found nothing.


The facts of the case are that the Police after receiving intelligence reports, mounted surveillance, which revealed that the accused was doing business relating to narcotics.