Three Police Suspects Bought New Cars

Accra, Dec. 13, GNA - A Prosecution Witness on Wednesday told an Accra Fast Track Court that three Policemen, who allegedly allowed Asem Dake, alias Sheriff, to escape with 76 parcels of cocaine from MV Benjamin vessel, at Kpone near Tema, acquired properties soon after failing to arrest the suspects.

Detective Lance Corporal Dickson Atunah of the Tema New Town Police Station, who was giving his evidence in chief at the Court, said few months after failing to arrest the suspect, Sergeant Samuel Amoah, who jumped bail, bought a private BMW car; Sergeant David Nyarko bought Opel car while Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson bought Opel Astra. General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin, who is jointly charged with the three, was not mentioned for acquiring any property. They are facing charges of doing prohibited business and corruption by public officer.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and the Court presided over by Mr Justice Annin Yeboah, Appeal Court Judge, sitting as a High Court Judge, remanded them into Police custody to reappear on December 15. DL/Cpl Atunah said he had information that some people were offloading cocaine from a vessel but when his colleagues arrived, at the scene they met Asem Dake, alias Sheriff and a Whiteman, who pleaded that they should not be arrested.

DL/Cpl Atunah said Sheriff then gave his colleagues an unspecified amount of money and they allowed them to go.

He said when he confronted Yabson, who was his mate in the office, he (Yabson) said he also had the information but when he arrived the suspect had offloaded the cocaine, adding he met Sheriff and a Whiteman, who pleaded that they should not to be arrested and gave them some money.

In a cross-examination by Mr Musah Ahmed, Counsel for Yabson, DL/Cpl Atunah said he did not report the case to his Superior Officer since he believed the story.

When Counsel asked if he became satisfied with the answers provided,

Witness said: "I was satisfied with the answers he gave me." Counsel: "Is it good for your mate to own a car, while you do not have one?"

Witness: "We are all different people."

Counsel: "Is it just to incriminate the accused persons because you are peeved?"

Witness: "No"

The case of the Prosecution is that in the earlier hours of April 26, 2006, MV Benjamin arrived on the high seas off 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 the Kpone Beach.

At the Beach, the accused persons looked on until Asem Dake offloaded the drugs into a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The accused persons then followed the vehicle to Tema where Dake gave them some money and they failed to arrest him.