Witnesses in cocaine swapping case would appear in court – Prosecution

The Prosecution in the alleged cocaine swapping scandal on Monday told the Accra Circuit Court hearing the case that they can only produce witnesses in the matter in court in two weeks.

Mr Anthony Rexford Wiredu, Chief State Attorney, also told the court that the accused Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda has not formally been charged on the new charge sheet brought against her by the state.

Mr Wiredu therefore asked the court to order the accused, DSP Mawuenyega Tehoda, to report herself to the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) so that she could be charged on the new charges.

He said the accused for sometime now had not been reporting to the BNI as ordered by the court previously and so it was difficult for the BNI to charge her formally.

Mr E.K. Vordoagu, Counsel for DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda, however rejected the claims by the prosecution and said the failure of the state to try the accused should not be blamed on the accused.

He said since the beginning of the trial, the accused had co-operated and reported herself to the BNI. He said the prosecution was just making excuses to unduly delay the case.

Ms Audrey Kokuvi Tay, the trial judge subsequently adjourned the case to March 19, 2012.

The facts are that the Vice President John Dramani Mahama on December 4, 2011, directed the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) to investigate the loss of 1,020 grammes of cocaine tendered in evidence at an Accra Circuit Court on September 27, 2011 which was admitted without any objection in a case against Nana Ama Martins.

However, the following day at the trial, the defence objected to the exhibit claiming it was not cocaine.

Mr Wiredu said the prosecution would lead evidence to show that an uncle of Nana Ama Martins, one Yankey, and a sister of Nana Ama called Gyabaah Serwah, informed a witness that they had managed with the assistance of DSP Tehoda to change the cocaine into sodium bicarbonate after the trial judge had refused to take GHC5, 000 as a bribe. An amount of GHC4, 000 was for the judge and GHC1,000 to the Court Clerk, one Lawalni.

He said there was evidence that one Beatrice Narh, a family member of Nana Ama Martins, confided in her (witness) not to tell anyone about the role played by DSP Tehoda and others in the swapping exercise.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Tehoda was the Deputy Head, Commercial Crime Unit at the Police Headquarters in Accra.

Mr Wiredu said the witness stated that they contacted one lawyer Komla Senanu and had to pay GHC10,000 as legal fees but because Nana Ama Martins could not pay, her sister Serwah and others agreed to sell a house belonging to Nana Ama to pay for the legal fees and other expenses.

He said DSP Tehoda and the uncle of Nana Ama Martins, Yankey, spearheaded the process by sending the indenture on the property to the Lands Commission to ascertain its validity and sale after which the proceeds was given to DSP Tehoda.

Mr Wiredu said DSP Tehoda invited lawyer Senanu on three occasions to her office and paid him the legal fees and informed him (Lawyer Senanu) that they had managed to swap the cocaine and turned it into sodium bicarbonate.

He said after the second test, which proved negative for cocaine, and Nana Ama Martins was released, DSP Tehoda was seen jubilating in her office on that day.

Mr Wiredu noted that the process of changing the cocaine into sodium bicarbonate was facilitated by DSP Tehoda hence her being charged with abetment for undertaking an activity relating to narcotics.

DSP Tehoda is on GHc100, 000 bail with two sureties, one to be justified following an appeal at the Human Rights Court. She is to report to the Police every Monday.