Pubdate: Sat, 22 Dec 2007
Source: Statesman, The (Ghana)
Copyright: 2007 The Statesman
Contact:  http://www.thestatesmanonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4308
Author: Gilbert Boyefio
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

COCAINE COPS GET 75YRS

Three policemen of the Ghana Police Service who  connived and abetted
with Asem Dakeh, a drug baron on  the run, were yesterday sentenced to
25 years each with  hard labour for their role in the missing 76
parcels of  cocaine offloaded at the Kpone beach near Tema.

The three, Sergeant David Nyarko, Lance Corporals  Dwamena Yabson and
Peter Bundorin were also sentenced  to two years imprisonment each for
corruption by a  public official. The sentences run
concurrently.

They were charged in connection with the missing  cocaine brought into
the country on April 25, last  year, by the vessel M.V. Benjamin.

The three policemen were alleged to have collected an  undisclosed
amount in US dollars from Sheriff Asem  Dakeh 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.

The prosecution led evidence to show that the policemen  saw Sheriff
at the Kpone beach offloading the cocaine  but left him and his
accomplices to go after being  bribed.

Passing the judgment, the court, presided over by  Justice Annin
Yeboah of the Court of Appeal, said the  25 year sentence was to serve
as a deterrent to other  officers of the security agencies to abide by
the law.

He noted that the three policemen, who are supposed to  enforce the
law, rather allowed themselves to be  influenced with money and did
the contrary.

Having satisfied himself with the evidence before him,  the judge said
the prosecution has proven the charges  against the accused persons
beyond reasonable doubt and  sentenced them accordingly.

Justice Annin Yeboah expressed displeasure with the  Police
administration for allowing Sergeant Amoah, who  allegedly played a
leading role in the case, to escape.

He said it is disgraceful that the police would allow  such a person
to slip through their fingers. He said if  Sergeant Amoah had been a
civilian he would have been  treated differently.

The judge however noted that there was not enough  evidence to show
that Sergeant David Nyarko, Lance  Corporal Dwamena Yabson benefited
from the illegal  transaction, and therefore refused to seize their
cars  as was requested by the prosecution.

He said through out the trial certain facts, such as  the station of
the three policemen and their  involvement in the operation as Kpone,
were undisputed.

He said from evidence led by the prosecution, the  accused persons
were present in the house of Asem Dakeh  to receive the money.

He therefore rejected their claim that they were not  present. He
observed that the three policemen allowed  themselves to be bribed by
Sergeant Amoah from  arresting Asem Daker.

The prosecution led evidence to show that the policemen  saw Sheriff
at the Kpone beach offloading the cocaine  but left him and his
accomplices to go.

Pleading for mitigation, Counsel for the accused  persons told the
court that their clients could be  innocent of the offences but on the
facts they remained  guilty.

They said their clients were first offenders and  therefore pleaded
with the court to temper justice with  mercy by handing them the
minimum sentence. They  further pleaded that for the second count
their clients  should be caution.

A fourth policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Yaw  Amoah, who
allegedly played a leading role in the case,  escaped from the
premises of the Greater Accra Regional  Police Command soon after he
was granted bail by an  Accra Circuit court in September, last year.

The accused, all of whom are with the Tema Regional  Police Command,
pleaded not guilty to two counts of  engaging in a prohibited business
related to narcotic  drugs and corruption by a public officer.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Steve Heath