By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday December 22, 2007
AN Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday jailed three policemen 25 years each for their involvement in the loss of 76 parcels of cocaine
The three policemen, Sergeant David Nyarko, Lance Corporals Dwamena Yabson and Peter Bundorin, are all attached to the Tema Regional Police Command.
They collected an undisclosed amount in US dollars and let off the hook, Sheriff Asem Darke, popularly called ‘Limping Man’, who is wanted by the police for the importation of 77 parcels of the cocaine, 76 of which were offloaded at the Kpone beach near Tema on April 26, 2006.
A fourth policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Yaw Amoah, who allegedly played a leading role in the case, escaped from the premises of the Accra Regional Police Command soon after he was granted bail by an Accra Circuit court in September 2006.
He is still wanted by the police to face trial.
The three accused persons pleaded not guilty to two counts of engaging in a prohibited business related to narcotic drugs and corruption by a public officer.
Convicting them, the court presided over by Appeal Court Judge, Justice Anim Yeboah held that the prosecution was able to lead evidence to show that the policemen indeed saw Sheriff at the Kpone beach offloading the cocaine but allowed him and his accomplices to go.
The court also held that throughout the trial, facts and issues such as the presence of the policemen at the Kpone beach were undisputed.
“Evidence available to the court also indicates that all the accused persons were present at Community 5, Tema where Seriff resides and this went unchallenged by the defence”.
The court said held that the policemen allowed themselves to be influenced by Amoah not to arrest Sheriff.
The judge however did not confiscate the cars bought by the policemen, which the prosecution tendered in evidence, because he said the prosecution did not prove that they used the money from Sheriff to buy the cars.
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