Surprise at Tagor, Abass trial as state closes case

Accra, May 30, GNA - The State on Wednesday closed its case in the trial of Kwabena Amaning, aka Tagor, and Alhaji Issa Abass, alleged self-confessed drug barons, being tried for a drug-related offence.

The pronouncement by Mr Edward Agyeman Duodu, Principal State Attorney, came as a surprise because at the last adjourned date, he indicated to the court that two more witnesses would be called.

But when sitting resumed at the Fast Track High Court, Mr Duodu said: "My Lord, we not calling any more witnesses. My Lord this is the end of our case."

The prosecution called 11 witnesses.

Mr Ellis Owusu-Fordjour, Lead Counsel for Tagor, prayed for an adjournment to enable him decide on the next line of action. When journalists enquired from Mr Owusu-Fordjour what would be his next line of action, he said: "I don't want to pre-empt anything." The court presided over Mr Justice Jones Dotse, a Court of Appeal Judge, adjourned the matter to June 6 to enable defence counsel to inform the court of their next line of action.

Abass, 53, and Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, 34, are jointly charged for conspiracy to deal in narcotic drugs.

Tagor has additionally been charged for carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs, buying and supplying of narcotic drugs while Abass is also being held for carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and supplying narcotic drugs. They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in prison custody. The prosecution's case is that the accused are self-confessed drug barons who since 2004 had been actively engaged in activities of promoting and establishing various enterprises relating to narcotic drugs.