Prosecution cross-examines wife of Corporal Yabson in MV Benjamin case

Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - Madam Helen Asase, wife of one of three policemen alleged to have aided Sheriff Asem Dake, a prime suspect in the disappearance of 76 parcels of cocaine on board the MV Benjamin, on Tuesday told an Accra Fast Track Court that she was the one who opened the door to their room when one Martey, a fisherman, knocked at the door on April 26, last year.

However, she said, she did not know what transpired between her husband, Detective Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson, and Martey because her husband did not tell her.

Mad Asase was answering questions under cross-examination by Mrs Stella Badu, Principal State Attorney, at an Accra Fast Track High Court trying Yabson and two others for corruption. Yabson is standing trial with General Sergeant David Nyarko and General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin on charges of prohibited business and corruption by public officer. Nyarko, Yabson and Bondorin have pleaded not guilty and they have been remanded into police custody. A fourth policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Amoah, is on the run. He jumped bail after an Accra Regional Tribunal granted bail to him and others.

Madam Asase said she was in bed on April 26, 2006 at about 0400 hours when she heard a knock on her door. She then called her husband who was also in bed.

She denied that her husband opened the door, saying she was the person who opened the door and told her husband that Martey, whom she had known for some time in the area, was looking for him. "I turned and saw my husband in boxer shorts coming out and he requested that I gave him his Identity Card, shirt and shoes and he went out with the caller.

"I was confused when he requested for these items and left for Tema New Town Police Station Charge Office and returned late in the afternoon."

Mrs Badu asked: "Would you be surprised if your husband said he opened the door?" Madam Asase insisted that she opened the door. She shed tears intermittently during the cross-examination, which lasted just about 10 minutes. Her voice also trembled and she shivered throughout the period. When asked why she moved from Tema New Town Police Barracks to her present location, Madam Asase, said: "I moved to stay at Ashaiman basically for private matters which I cannot tell the court about, not because my husband had been arrested." She added that she had been there for almost a year now.

Madam Asase who has two children, aged between two and four years with the older one dropping out of school after the arrest of her husband said: "My husband did not bring anything home and has not acquired any property after that time." The case of the prosecution is that on April 26, last year, MV Benjamin arrived on the high seas of Tema.

The vessel was carrying 77 parcels of cocaine imported by Sheriff Asem Dake. Soon after the vessel arrived, the parcels of cocaine were offloaded unto two canoes, which sailed to Kpone Beach, near Tema. Some fishermen who spotted them became suspicious and called the owner of the canoes. The owner of the canoes and others informed Sergeant Amoah who was stationed at Tema New Town. He in turn mobilized the other accused persons and they proceeded to Kpone Beach. At the beach, the accused persons looked on until Asem Dake offloaded the drugs into a four-wheel vehicle. The accused persons then followed the vehicle to Tema where Dake gave them some money and they failed to arrest him. Hearing continues on October 10. 25 Sept. 07