Tsibu-Darko's case docket referred to A-G's office for advice - Police

Accra, Sept. 14, GNA - The Police have referred the case docket on a Tema-based businessman, Prince Tsibu-Darko, who is in Police custody in connection with narcotic drug offences, to the Attorney- General's Office for advice.

Chief Inspector Ben Darfour, who held brief for Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr George Abavelim, announced this when Tsibu-Darko made his fourth appearance at an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday.

Chief Inspector Darfour told the Court that the substantive Prosecutor was at the Regional Tribunal and he had been asked to ask for a week's adjournment.

"I have been reliably informed by the investigator that a duplicate docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General's Office for advice. "It is not a deliberate attempt that the Prosecution is not in Court. My Lord, the Prosecution is on his feet in another case." Mr Gabriel Pwamang, Tsibu-Darko's Counsel, expressed regret at the lackadaisical attitude of the Prosecution saying "the Prosecution is dragging its feet to the commencement of the trial".

He said from the way things were going, it seemed that the Prosecution was deliberately keeping the accused person in remand for a long time.

"The act contravenes my client's liberty. If the Prosecution knew that he would not be able to turn up, he should have written to the Court.

"It is very clear that the Prosecution is not anxious to put the accused person on trial; the non prosecution of the accused is an infringement on his liberties."

Mr Pwamang said the Prosecution's arguments were based on allegations and suspicion and prayed the Court to grant the accused person bail.

"We are willing to comply with the conditions and orders of the Court if bail was granted."

The Court after listening to both the Defence Counsel and Prosecution stated that the argument raised at the sitting was not different from the previous ones.

According to the Court, nothing new had emerged from the case and affirmed its earlier ruling not to grant bail to the accused person. He would reappear on September 25.

Tsibu-Darko, 49, whose plea is yet to be taken, is facing a charge of doing prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs. Tsibu-Darko owns Koreana Hotel and Kamoney Forex Bureaux in Tema. 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.