Friday, October 19, 2007

Tagor and Abass file their addresses

By William Yaw Owusu

Friday October 19, 2007
An Accra Fast Track High Court has asked the Prosecution in the trial of Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, and Alhaji Issah Abass, charged in connection with the missing 76 parcels of cocaine from the vessel MV Benjamin at the Tema Port, to file their address before November 19.

The court, presided over by Justice Jones Dotse of the Court of Appeal, gave the directive after Amaning and Abass had filed their addresses.

The court then adjourned proceedings until November28, to enable both the prosecution and defence to put things together after which a date for judgement will be fixed.

Tagor and Abass were among 14 people recommended for prosecution by the Justice Georgina Wood Committee set up by the Ministry of the Interior last year, to investigate the case of 77 parcels of cocaine brought into the country by M.V Benjamin Vessel, and another quantity of the substance seized from a house at East Legon in Accra in November 2005.

Out of the 77 parcels on the vessel, 76 disappeared at the break waters of the port before security agencies could intercept the vessel.

Tagor is facing four counts of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and supply of narcotic drugs.

Abass is charged with three counts of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and supply of narcotic drugs.

The two have pleaded not guilty and are in prison custody.

When the case was called yesterday, Mr. Mohammed Attah, counsel for Abass said he was not able to file his address on time because part of the record of proceedings were not ready.

Tagor however filed his address last week.

Mr. Ellis Owusu Fordjuor, Counsel for Tagor told the court that they needed to know the kind of address to be filed by the prosecution in order not to give them undue opportunity.

Justice Dotse then said the court was giving the prosecution until November 19, to file its address.

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