Tsibu-Darko's case adjourned

Accra, March 27, GNA - The Prosecution in the case in which Prince Tsibu-Darko, owner of the Koreana Hotel in Tema, is being held for an alleged drug related offence, on Tuesday said it was still waiting for information to wrap up its investigations.

But one of Tsibu-Darko's Counsel Mr Yonni Kulendi said unless the Court intervened, the plea of the Prosecution would "run until thy kingdom come".

Mr Kulendi said the Prosecution had arraigned and charged the accused person with specific offence but they had not been able to prosecute.

He, therefore, prayed the Court to use its discretion to discharge the accused person.

"In the interest of justice and fairness, the accused ought to be discharged. Any time they are ready we would come to stand trial," Mr Kulendi said.

Though the Court had complained about the Prosecution's inability to commence with the trial, it over-ruled the Defence submission and adjourned the matter to April 26 2007.

When the case was called at the Fast Track High Court on Tuesday, Mrs Yvonne Atokora Obuobisa, Senior State Attorney; said their position remained the same as they were still waiting for more information. Mrs Obuobisa, therefore, prayed the Court for an adjournment. Tsibu-Darko, 49, is alleged to have exported 3,700 kilograms of cocaine to a European country in the middle of 2005, which was intercepted and seized.

Tsibu-Darko, who also owns Kamoney Forex Bureau in Tema, has pleaded not guilty to carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and the Court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, a Court of Appeal Judge, who was sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge.

He is on one billion cedi bail with sureties to be justified and has been reporting to the Police once a week.