Court orders Sima to open defence on July 8

Accra, June 17, GNA - An Accra Fast Track High Court on Thursday ordered Ibrahim Sima, Chief Executive Officer of Exopa Modelling Agency on trial for a narcotic offence to open his defence on Thursday, July 8. This was after the prosecution had closed its case during which it called five witnesses to prove its case.

Earlier, Police Chief Inspector Samuel Anabah who continued his cross examination stated that when Sima was arrested, the German Embassy in Ghana stepped in, in respect of another drug case against the accused. Chief Inspector Anabah said it was after "we have finished with him that we would inform the embassy".

He denied that Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) officials tampered with Sima's bag before inviting him to identify it.

Witness admitted that the accused used a combination of numbers before his bag and a padlock could be opened.

The court earlier overruled an objection raised by Mr James Agalga, Sima's lawyer that attempts to call an analyst who conducted test on the substances was going to prejudice his client's case. Mr Daniel Ofosu Boateng, a chemist and analyst who conducted the test on the substances said the results indicated that the substance was cocaine. According to Mr Boateng, fifth prosecution witness, the substance purity level was 72.3 per cent.

He said on October 15 and October 16, 2009, a brown card box bearing the official seal of NACOB was handed over for analysis. In the company of the box was a letter from the Executive Secretary of the board asking that analysis be conducted into the substances. "The box had a title the Republic verses Ibrahim Sima inscribed on it," witness said.

Mr Boateng said the box contained four different parcels, adding that they were packed in a plain polythene bag. Answering questions under cross-examination, Mr Boateng admitted undertaking the test himself.

He denied that he used a different procedure to ascertain whether or not the substance was cocaine.

Prosecution's case is that the accused allegedly concealed five kilograms of drugs suspected to be cocaine in some tubers of yam while travelling to Frankfurt, Germany, on September 7, last year. While going through departure formalities, officials of NACOB opened his luggage and found the tubers of yam sliced, stuffed with cocaine and sealed. The prosecution said Sima claimed ownership of the drug claiming he was asked to give it to someone in Germany for a fee of 3,200 dollars. 17 June 10