Trial Of 3 Policemen Begins

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday, 01 December 2006
THE trial of three out of the six policemen arrested for their roles in the disappearance of 76 parcels of cocaine from the M.V. Benjamin vessel at the Tema Port began at an Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday.

Sergeant David Nyarko, and Lance Corporals Dwamena Yabson and Peter Bundorin, all from the Tema Regional Police Command, have been charged with two counts of engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and corruption by public officer.

They pleaded not guilty and the court, presided over by Mr Justice Anim Yeboah, remanded them in police custody until December 4, for definite hearing.

The other accused are Sergeant Isaac Asante, Corporal Kennedy Dzakeh, and Detective Sergeant Samuel Yaw Amoah who is on the run.

Asante and Dzakeh who were initially remanded with the other three by an Accra Circuit Court, were not brought to court and the prosecution could not tell when they will appear.

Sgt. Amoah for his part, absconded when they were earlier granted bail by the circuit court on September 25, and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Presenting the facts of the case yesterday, Principal State Attorney Agyemang Duodu, said in the early hours of April 26, fishing vessel MV Benjamin, docked at the Tema Port carrying 77 parcels of cocaine.

A canoe and a dinghy later arrived at the scene and carted the 76 parcels of the cocaine to the Kpone beach.

Mr Doudu said a fisherman spotted them and alerted his colleagues and the owner of the canoe who in turn reported the matter to the Tema New Town Police Station.

Sgt. Amoah organized Sgt. Nyarko Yabson and L/cpl Bundorun to go to the Kpone beach where they saw the cocaine being packed into a white van and afterwards they boarded another vehicle belonging to Asem Darke, also called Sherrif and escorted the van to the residence of Sheriff.

He said Sheriff bribed the policemen, and they therefore failed to arrest the culprits.