Case of Tagor, others adjourned

Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - The case of four suspected drug barons being tried by an Accra Circuit Court was on Monday adjourned to November 3 because the judge is on leave. The suspects - Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, Alhaji Abass Issah and Kwabena Acheampong - were not in court.

The Chief State Attorney Ms Gertrude Aikins and some of the lawyers of accused were, however, present.

The Attorney-General's Department had told the Circuit Court that it intended to put the suspects before the Fast Track High Court. They were arrested after testifying at the Justice Georgina Wood Committee set up by the Ministry of the Interior to investigate two high-profile cocaine cases. Another suspect, Victor Kisseh, alias Yaw Billa, was arrested later.

The fifth suspect Kwabena Ababio was freed after the Committee was exonerated.

At the last sitting, Ms Aikins, who has taken over the case from Deputy Superintendent of Police Abichab Boye, said the Police needed time to complete its investigations. She said trading in cocaine was not done in the open and there was therefore the need for more time to investigate the matter.

The Committee investigated the disappearance of 77 parcels of cocaine from a fishing vessel, MV Benjamin, and alleged bribery of Police officers following the seizure of 588 kilograms of cocaine at East Legon in Accra.

The accused persons are being tried for conspiring, importing of narcotic drugs without licence, engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs, importing 78 parcels of narcotic drugs and establishing and promoting businesses related to narcotic drugs. Their pleas were not taken and were remanded again into Police custody.

The case of the Prosecution is that in April 2006, 78 parcels of cocaine each weighing 30 kilograms were imported into the country on board MV Benjamin, a vessel that docked at the Tema Harbour. The Police had information about it and proceeded to the scene, but discovered only one 30-kilogram parcel in the vessel.