By William Yaw Owusu
Wednesday September 26, 2007
The wife of Lance Corporal Dwamema Yabson one of the three policemen on trial before an Accra Fast Track High Court for the missing 76 parcels of cocaine yesterday stirred emotions when she appeared before the court to give testimony at the request of her husband.
The witness Helen B. Asaase, wept uncontrollably as she mounted the witness’ box and had to be consuled by a court clerk.
As she took the oath to start her testimony, tears flowed freely down her cheeks but sobered when the clerks assured her that she was protected by the law.
Yabson with who Helen has two children is being tried with Sergeant David Nyarko and Lance Corporal Peter Bundorin in connection with the missing parcels of cocaine brought into the country on April 25, last year by the vessel, MV Benjamin.
They were alleged to have collected an undisclosed amount in United States dollars from Sherriff Asem Darke, also known as Limping Man, who is wanted by the Police in connection with the importation of 77 parcels of cocaine.
Seventy six of the parcels were off loaded at the Kpone beach near Tema by Shiriff and his accomplices on April 26, last year but the policemen who saw them, allegedly collected the money and left them off the hook.
The police say the accused persons saw Sheriff, a Korean called Killer, as well as another unidentified person, offload cartons of alleged cocaine into a white van at the beach but instead of arresting them, they sat in the fugitives land Gruiser vehicle to Tema to collect the money.
Another policeman Detective Sgt. Samuel Yaw Amoah, who played a leading role in the case escaped soon after he was granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court in September last year.
The accused, all of who are with the Tema Regional Police Command, have pleaded not guilty to two courts of engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and corruption by a public officer.
They are in police custody.
Led in evidence by Mr. Stephen Ahor, the witness confirmed to the court that on April 26 at about 2 am, a man called Martey came to knock on their door at the Tema New Town Police barracks.
She said she was the one who opened the door, contrary to an earlier evidence by Yabson that he went out first to meet Martey.
“When Martey knocked the descended door, my husband had from the building. As I tried to look for him for Martey, he arrivd.”
She told the court presided over by Justice Annin Yeboah, of the Court of Appeal that Martey and Yabson then descended the building after which Yabson asked her to bring his identity card and his boots.
“I did not hear what Martey told him but I later saw him move to the charge office and
Martey headed towards the exit of the barracks.”
Asaase told the court that Yabson returned home at 2 pm that day and when she enquired about where he had been he replied it was part of his duty as a policeman.
She told the court that she moved to Ashiaman before Yabson was arrested but when the accused’s room was searched she was not present
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