Accra, June 5, GNA - One of the three policemen alleged to have aided Sheriff Asem Dake, a prime suspect in the disappearance of 76 parcels of cocaine from MV Benjamin, on Tuesday denied that he saw Asem Dake and refused to arrest him after he had offered him money. General Sergeant (GS) David Nyarko told the Accra Fast Track High Court that he never went to Sherrif Asem Dake's house at Tema Community five.
Answering questions under cross-examination by the prosecution, he maintained that he was truthful to the court and that he was not throwing dust in the eyes of the court. GS Nyarko, who is standing trial with Detective Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson and General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin, is being held on charges of engaging in prohibited business and corruption by public officer.
Nyarko, Yabson and Bondorin have pleaded not guilty. A fourth policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Amoah, is on the run. He jumped bail after an Accra Regional Tribunal granted him and his accomplices bail.
GS Nyarko denied that he and the accused persons, together with other fishermen sat in a taxi and followed Asem Dake to his house to collect money.
GS Nyarko said he did not know Yabson until they were arrested and escorted to the Greater Accra Regional Police Station. The accused denied looking on while Sherrif Asem Dake parked 76 parcels of cocaine into a white van at Kpone beach. He maintained that he did not witness the parking of parcels into any van while at the Kpone Beach. "Mr Lord, it is not true that Lance Corporal Bondorin who was in taxi crossed Sergeant Amoah and I and convinced us to abandon the arrest."
GS Nyarko maintained that he used his father's pension benefit to purchase a car adding that he did not receive any proceeds after the operation at Kpone Beach.
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 one 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 the canoes became suspicious and called the owner of the canoes.
The owner of the canoes and others informed Sergeant Amoah who was stationed at Tema Newtown. 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 for which they failed to arrest him. Hearing continues on June 7. 5 June 07
