Accused was behaving abnormally - Witness

Accra, Feb. 22 GNA - Dr. Nana Okine Brako, a Medical Officer in-charge of the clinic at the Bureau of National Investigations, on Friday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that Thomas Osei, the man who drove into the President's car, looked nervous and was acting abnormally when he observed him.

He said, he therefore, requested for a test to be conducted on him. Dr Brako, the eighth prosecution witness (PW), made the statement when Mr Edward Agyeman Doudu, Chief State Attorney, led him in evidence at the ongoing trial of Mr Osei.

Dr Brako said the accused was taken to a medical laboratory and he tested positive for cocaine.

Mr Kwame Boafo Akuffo, counsel for the accused, has alleged in court that the cut on Osei's eyebrow was caused by assault meted out to him by some personnel of President's security at the BNI office. He said at the appropriate time he would subpoena those personnel to appear in court to answer for those charges. Dr Brako said during cross-examination by Mr Akuffo that the test on the accused was done to confirm whether Osei was nervous or had taken any substance.

Asked whether the test could give the quantity of cocaine in the system of the accused, he replied in he negative but said it only proved that there was cocaine in the urine. Osei, 51, a businessman, has been charged with five counts of motor traffic offences, use of narcotic drugs and failing to change ownership of the vehicle. The charges are dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to give way to Presidential siren and the use of narcotic drugs. The President escaped unhurt. Osei has pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him.