Naval Officer narrates role arrest of MV Benjamin crew

Accra, Feb. 16, GNA - Commander Issa Yakubu, a Naval Officer of the Ghana Navy, on Friday narrated to An Accra Fast Track High Court the role he played in tracking down crew members of the famous MV Benjamin on which the 77 missing cartons were carted from.

Commander Yakubu, led in evidence by Mr William Pobi, Principal State Attorney said on April 25, 2006, as the captain of the Ghana Navy, he was tasked to intercept a fishing trawler, which was suspected to be carrying narcotic substances.

To complete his search, the Commander said a picture of MV Adede II was given to him.

The Commander was testifying in the trial of the five-member crew of MV Benjamin/MV Adede vessel, which was allegedly used in transporting the 77 parcels of cocaine to Tema, began at an Accra Fast Track High Court. The crew are Pak Bok Sil, a 46 year-old Korean Engineer; Isaac Arhin, a 49-year-old sailor; Philip Kobina Bruce Arhin, a 47 year-old-mechanic; 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 for possessing narcotic drugs without authority and engaging in prohibited business. Jospeh Kojo Dawson, the owner of the vessel, who is being held for using his property for narcotic offence and Pak are facing the charge of engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotics.

They have pleaded not guilty and are in Police custody.

Commander Yakubu said on the dawn of April 27, 2006, he and his team decided to search, the Tema Anchorage and saw a fishing trawler turn up-side down.

He said during their investigations they saw MV Benjamin and enquired from the crew whether they had a sister vessel known as Adede II but Isaac Arhin who was among the crew replied in the negative. Witness said Isaac told him that the MV Benjamin had not been fishing for the past one year.

The witness said answers offered by Isaac Arhin aroused his suspicion and he asked his team to cross- check documents on the MV Benjamin. According to Commander Yakubu, the MV Benjamin looked like Adede II. "To our surprise, witness said Isaac, whose voice he could recognise denied knowledge about the vessel.

If you fail to register any vessel that constituted an offence," he added.

"When the MV Benjamin docked at Tema, I and my team escorted them to our superiors for questioning."

Witness said the team from the narcotics Control board joined his team to search the vessel.

During the search, the team enquired from the crew whether they knew about MV Adede and they denied knowledge.

Witness told the court that the paintings on the vessel carrying the crew looked fresh.

"We saw a small paper with inscription MV Adede II and a list of glossaries meaning that the name of the vessel had been changed from Adede II to MV Benjamin," witness said.

According to witness, the crew became jittery but consistently denied knowing the name Adede II and that their ship engine had developed some fault and they were trying it.

Commander said since they were not convinced at the turn of events they arrested the crew and Isaac and Philip Bruce Arhin statement were taken since the rest of the crew who were foreigners could not speak English very well.

"During the search, we went into the hatch and found a black bag which was locked with a padlock and a chain and demanded for the key but the crew could not provide one, witness said.

"Isaac then assisted them to break into the hatch and found 30 slaps of cocaine each weighing one kilogramme.

The commander who had a digital camera took photographs of all the events and tendered them in evidence.

Reading out Isaac's statement, the commander said Isaac indicated that the 77 parcels of cocaine were offered into two canoes on the high seas of Monrovia, Liberia.

According to the witness, Isaac, who was the second in command in the MV Benjamin since they were afraid kept quite and prayed that they get to their motherland safely.

Answering questions under cross-examination by Mr Benjamin Osei-Wusu a defence counsel, Commander Yakubu said when they enquired about the whereabouts of the Captain of the vessel; the crew said he (the captain)

had abandoned the ship. Witness maintained that he took part in the search into the MV Benjamin and that he was being truthful to the court. The charge sheet says on February 6, 2006 Dawson, who is also a businessman, indirectly without lawful authority and with the intention of facilitating an enterprise relating to narcotic drugs, did allow one Asem Dake a.k.a. Sheriff to use his vessel (MV Benjamin/MV Adede) to import 77 parcels each containing 30 kilograms of cocaine into the country without a licence issued by the Minister of Health. Pak is also said to have repaired the MV Benjamin vessel to facilitate the transportation of the 77 parcels of cocaine from Takoradi to Tema. Isaac, Philip, Cui and Luo on April 27, 2006, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel, allegedly had in their possession one parcel containing 30 slabs of cocaine each weighing about one kilogram. The case was adjourned to December 20. 16 Feb.07