Owner, crew of MV Benjamin have case to answer - State Attorney

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - A Principal State Attorney representing the state in the case of the vessel owner and crew on board MV Benjamin, the vessel allegedly used in transporting 77 parcels of cocaine to Ghana last year, says the accused persons have a case to answer. Mr William Kpobi has therefore prayed the court to reject a submission of "no case" put in by the accused persons and call on the accused persons to open their defence. Defence team had earlier argued that the charges preferred against their clients could not be sustained to warrant the court to call on them to open their defence.

Accra, Aug. 9, GNA - A Principal State Attorney representing the state in the case of the vessel owner and crew on board MV Benjamin, the vessel allegedly used in transporting 77 parcels of cocaine to Ghana last year, says the accused persons have a case to answer. Mr William Kpobi has therefore prayed the court to reject a submission of "no case" put in by the accused persons and call on the accused persons to open their defence. Defence team had earlier argued that the charges preferred against their clients could not be sustained to warrant the court to call on them to open their defence. They said this was because the prosecution had not been able to make its case after calling 13 witnesses. Joseph Kwabena Dawson, Managing Director of Dashment Company Limited who is the owner of the vessel and three others are being tried for the various roles they played in importing the cocaine on board MV Benjamin. The rest of the crew are Pak Bok Sil, a 46 year-old Korean Engineer, Cui Xing Li, a 44 year-old Chinese sailor and Luo Yin Xing, a 49 year-old sailor. Isaac Arhin, Philip Arhin, Cui and Luo are charged with possessing narcotic drugs without authority and engaging in prohibited business. Dawson is being held for using his property for narcotic offence. They have pleaded not guilty and are in Police custody. Responding to a submission of "no case", Mr Kpobi said Dawson indirectly used his vessel for the drug business. The Principal State Attorney questioned why Dawson should give out his vessel without collecting any money and waited until he was arrested before he called Sheriff Asem Dake to demand his money. According to the State Attorney, the ingredients contained in the charge of "use of property for narcotic for narcotic drugs" had been proved. He said to prove the charge above, prosecution had established that MV Benjamin existed and that it promoted an activity by going on the high seas to cart the cocaine. Mr Kpobi said Dawson indirectly facilitated in the importation of the cocaine by allowing Sheriff Asem Dake to use his vessel. He called on the court to ignore the bare boat charter agreement between Dawson and Sherrif as well as the statements of Dawson, which, he said, were self-serving and full of contradictions. According to him, Dawson "should be in the dock to answer the charges preferred against him". On Pak, Mr Kpobi said although he was engaged as engineer assigned to repair the steering and alignment he turned himself into one of the drug barons. According to Mr Kpobi, he did so by turning into, "the Human Resource Manager, Transport Officer and Pay Master General who paid-off the some crew members," before the said voyage. "The evidence of Detective Charles Adaba showed that Pak was given unspecified money by one Mr Bi to pay the crew and maintain others on board the vessel. It is only the underworld that money could be thrown about without people accounting for it," Mr Kpobi said. The Principal State Attorney said Isaac Arhin deceived Navy officers when he said he did not know Adede II while on the voyage. Mr Kpobi said it was Isaac who signed outboard cards and he told a lie when he said he did not know Adede II. The Principal State Attorney said Pak repaired the vessel to facilitate the transportation of the cocaine from Takoradi to Tema. On February 26, 2006, the accused persons were rounded up by security personnel for the various roles they played in the missing 76 parcels of cocaine on board MV Benjamin/Adede II. Isaac, Philip, Cui and Luo, who were on board the vessel, allegedly had in their possession one slab containing 30 parcels each weighing about one kilogram. Hearing continues on August 13.