Eben Quarcoo closes his defence

Accra, June 15, GNA - Eben Quarcoo, former editor of the "Free Press", on Tuesday concluded his defence in a case in which he is charged with criminal libel for allegedly publishing that Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings was dealing in drugs and gold in 1996.

His attorney, Mr Akoto Ampaw, told the court that his client had completed his defence after he had called Mr E.K.

Ashie, the administrative manager of the newspaper, last week as his defence witness.

Mr Ampaw, therefore, applied that the record of evidence of prosecution witnesses be made available to him so that he could prepare his written address.

The court obliged and adjourned proceedings to June 29 by which time counsel would have obtained the records for a date to be fixed for judgment.

Quarcoo has pleaded not guilty and is on a 10- million-cedi bail. According to the prosecution, he published in his paper that Nana Konadu dealt in drugs and carried gold abroad on unannounced trips.