Accra, Nov. 25, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday agreed to h= ear in camera the evidence of Anas Aremeyaw Anas in the cocoa smuggling case involving 14 officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

A Senior State Attorney, Mr Anthony Rexford Wiredu, informed the cou= rt that due to the nature of work of the witness, who is an investigative journalist, it would be impossible for him to appear in open court. "My Lord I would be glad if the case can be heard in camera because of the nature of my witness' work," he pleaded.

The court presided over by Nana Adwoa Coleman upheld the request and=

the case was adjourned to December 7, 2010. All the 14 accused persons who were present in court have pleaded no= t guilty to abetment of crime.

They have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 each with two sureties. The officials are Gabriel Dimado, Collection Assistant I, William Festus Yawson, Collection Assistant II, Quaye Sowah Steven, Junior Collection Assistant II and Prosper Edze, Junior Collection Assistant II. The rest are Adolf Nii Armah, Junior Collection Assistant III, James=

Dzamesi, Junior Collection Assistant III, Rockson Eric Appeadu, Assistant=

Grade III and Paul Dzamesi, Assistant Collection III.

The facts of the case are that Anas, a journalist of the New Crusadi= ng Guide, had information that some security personnel at the western fronti= er of Ghana/Cote d'Ivoire border were compromising their work. The prosecution said they took money to assist people to smuggle dri= ed cocoa beans from Ghana to Cote d'Ivoire. It said the journalist conducted an investigation into the informati= on, which was captured on video and referred it to the Ghana Police Service f= or investigation. 25 Nov. 10