By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday, 30 June 2007
For the second time running, the court case involving Lance Corporal Ekow Russel, one of the nine policemen interdicted by the Police Administration in April for allegedly dealing in cocaine, could not be heard.
The Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice S.Y. Anim of the Court of Appeal, was compelled to adjourn proceedings because the defence counsel was not present in court.
It was after the court had adjourned proceedings that Captain Nkrabea Effah Dartey (rtd) and Mr Agyei Lartey entered the court room to announce their representation of Russel.
But the judge who had by that time adjourned proceedings until July 3, said the court could not proceed because counsel for Maxwell Antwi, a car dealer who has been charged together with Russel, was also not in court.
The police suspect Russel supplied that Antwi with the narcotic drugs.
Russel and seven other policemen together with Antwi appeared before an Accra Circuit Court in May and were remanded into police custody.
They were discharged by the court on June 21 following a ‘nolle prosqui’ (unwilling to pursue) application filed by the Attorney-General’s (AG) department.
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 on June 27, it was only Russel and Antwi who were arraigned for trial.
Those who remain discharged 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 AG’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.
Russel and Antwi are still in police custody.
The court could not take their plea for the prosecution to present the facts on their first appearance because the accused persons’ counsel said they were not aware that they were to appear before the court.
Their plea was still not taken yesterday.
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.
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