Suspected narcotic dealer battles for bail

Accra, Aug. 23, GNA -- An Accra Circuit Court trying a suspected drug dealer on Wednesday adjourned the case to September 6 to rule on an application for bail for the accused person.

The Court declared that it was adjourning "to refer to the statutes and the case law and rule on the matter".

Counsel for Prince Tibu-Darko, 49, submitted to the Court that his client should be granted bail since the charges levelled against him did not hold.

Tibu-Darko, whose plea is yet to be taken by the Court, is facing a charge of doing prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs. Appearing before the Court for the third time, Mr Gabriel Pwamang, who represents Tibu-Darko explained that although his client's business premises and house had been searched by the Police nothing had been found.

Tibu-Darko, who owns Koreana Hotel and Kamoney Forex Bureaux in Tema, has been remanded by the Court.

Arguing his application for bail Mr Pwamang noted that bail could only be refused in murder cases.

He said under the Criminal Procedure Code, the Court had power to grant bail to his client although that was based on discretion. Mr Pwamang said the Police had not been able to prove that his client was involved in the promotion, distribution and manufacturing of drugs.

"All that the Police are saying is based on suspicion=94, he said.

"My client was not doing business relating to narcotic drugs. They have no evidence whatsoever to that effect."

He, therefore, prayed the Court to admit his client to bail, saying, "my client is ready to submit to the Court's order and report to the Police."

He said Alhaji Imoro, who was also arrested in connection with an alleged narcotic drugs case, had been granted Police enquiry bail because they had no evidence incriminating him.

However, the Court interjected declaring that it was not aware of that case.

Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) George Abavelim reminded the court that the Police had not completed investigations.

ASP Abavelim said the Police brought the accused on the charge that he was doing business relating to drugs pointing out that the Court, when granting bail, should order the accused to be reporting to the Police.

The facts of the case are that the Police after receiving intelligence reports, mounted surveillance, which revealed that the accused was doing business relating to narcotics.