Cop In Court For Coke Deal

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday, 28 June 2007
LANCE Corporal Ekow Russel one of the nine policemen interdicted by the Police Administration in April for allegedly dealing in cocaine, was yesterday arraigned before an Accra Fast Track High Court.

In the dock with him was Maxwell Antwi, a car dealer, who the prosecution believes was supplied with the narcotic drugs by the policeman.

Russel, and seven other policemen together with Antwi who appeared before an Accra Circuit Court in May, were remanded into police custody but were discharged by the court on June 21 following a ‘nolle prosqui’ (unwilling to pursue) application filed by the Attorney-General’s department (AG).

But they were immediately re-arrested on the orders of the AG.

When the case was called at the Fast track Court for the first time yesterday, it was only Russel and Antwi where arraigned for trial.

Those not in court include George Akoi, Isaac Annang, Dominic Amedzah and Anthony Agyei, all Lance Corporals.

The rest are, Constable Collins Ohemeng, Inspector Oppong Kyei and Sergeant Francis Arthur all from the Accra Regional Police Command.

Sources close to the Attorney-general’s Department said the seven policemen have since been discharged after their re-arrest.

The Police Administration has since Tuesday mounted a search for Detective Inspector Justice Nana Oppong who is alleged to be involved in the case.

He is also on interdiction but absconded when the news broke that his colleagues were re-arrested.

The trial court, presided over by Justice S.Y.Anim of the Court of Appeal, remanded Russel and Antwi into police custody until June 29.

The court could not take their plea for the prosecution to present the facts because their accused person counsel were not aware that they were to appear before the court.

Russel is facing three counts of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, supplying narcotic drugs without lawful authority and dealing in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs while Antwi is charged with one count of possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.