Unpublished Article(Three Policemen)

By William Yaw Owusu

16/01/2007
Following threats allegedly issued to some potential witnesses in the ongoing trial of three policemen charged for their roles in the disappearance of 76 parcels of cocaine from the MV Benjamin vessel at the Tema Port, the Fast Track High Court has decided to hear their evidence in camera.

This is to ensure that the witnesses, who are believed to be fishermen, are protected from the public.

The three policemen together with another called General Sergeant Samuel Yaw Amoah, now at large, were said to have taken an undisclosed amount and released Asem Darke, popularly called Sheriff, the man being sought for by the police for carting the 76 parcels of cocaine away.

Those on trial, Sergeant David Nyarko, Lance Corporals Dwamena Yabson and Peter Bundorin, all with the Tema Regional Command, have pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and corruption by a public officer and are on remand.

Another policeman, Kennedy Dzakeh, originally arrested with the three in connection with the case is not yet charged while a sixth person arrested with them, Sergeant Isaac Asante, has been made a prosecution witness in the case.

Yesterday, when the court resumed sitting after a one month break, Mrs. Stella Badu a Senior State Attorney, prosecuting the case said the state wants the trial to be heard in camera because “the next set of witnesses have reason to believe that their lives are in danger”.

“They are being sought after day by day. We want their evidence to be taken in camera for their safety and Article 19 (15) of the Constitution strongly supports this”.

Both Dei Kwarteng and Musah Ahmed, counsel for Yabson on one hand and Nyarko and Bundorin on the other opposed the prosecution’s application saying there was no justification for what the prosecution was seeking to do.

Mr. Kwarteng said “I do not know whether those doing this are the accused persons and the prosecution has not told the court who they are”.

Mr. Ahmed for his part argued that once some witnesses had already appeared to testify in the case there was no reason to hear subsequent proceedings in camera saying “we want to assure the potential witnesses that they can freely testify and nothing will happen to them”.

The court presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah, who is also a Court of Appeal judge the over ruled counsel’s objection saying “I will allow the public to excuse us for now”.