General News of Monday, 9 February 2009

Source: GNA

Tagor appears in court again

Accra, Feb. 9, GNA - Kwabena Amaning, aka Tagor, who has appealed against his 15-year jail term for drugs, on Monday appeared before the Appeals Court in Accra to argue his case.

Tagor filed the appeal together with Alhaji Isaah Abass with whom he is serving the jail term, but Alhaji Abass was not in court because he is indisposed.

Although the case was listed on the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) notice board titled: "HR/10/09 Kwabena Amaning, Alhaji Issah Abass versus the Republic" the case could not be heard because processes for the appeal were incomplete.

The case was therefore adjourned sine die. The Fast Track High Court on November 28, 2007 found Tagor guilty of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs because he confessed to his drug transactions. He was, however, acquitted and discharged for buying and supplying narcotic drugs.

The court, presided over by Mr Justice Jones Victor Dotse, a court of Appeal Judge, also found Abass guilty of conspiracy and engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs. The court, however, acquitted and discharged him on charges of supplying narcotic drugs.

The court, ordered that the sentences should take effect from the day of their arrest. The Serious Fraud Office has confiscated assets of the convicts.

The two were said to have made confessions about their previous dealing in the drug business at the residence of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kofi Boakye in May 2006.

The said conversation was recorded and anonymously dropped at the Georgina Wood Committee set up by the government at the time to investigate the missing 76 parcels of cocaine on board MV Benjamin, which had docked at Tema. 9 Feb. 09