MV Benjamin was registered- Witness

Accra, Feb. 20, GNA - Mr Eugene Ofei Boohene, a Shipping Superintendent of the Maritime Authority, Takoradi on Tuesday told the Fast Track High Court that the controversial MV Benjamin was first registered on April 20, 2000.

He said Joseph Kojo Dawson, now accused and one of the Directors of Dashment Company Limited registered the vessel. Mr Boohene said the vessel was initially registered as Duk Won 63 and owned by some Koreans.

Mr Boohene was testifying in the trial at an Accra Fast Track High Court of five-member crew of MV Benjamin/MV Adede vessel, which was allegedly used in transporting the 77 parcels of cocaine to Tema. The crew is 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. Mr Boohene said one of his duties at the Authority was to register vessels, collect detail of crewmembers, among others. He said in January 2006, the vessel did not embark or disembark the crew.

The witness admitted that the vessel could be chartered. Answering questions under cross examination by Mr D.K Ameley, counsel for Dawson, Mr Boohene agreed with counsel that before vessels were registered they should have satisfied the laws of the country. In the case of MV Benjamin, witness said, it had satisfied all requirements as they had provided bill of sale before registration. Witness admitted that it was the duty of the shipping company to register crewmembers.

The charge sheet states 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 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.