Cocaine case : Court asks counsel to file written address

November 17, 2007 (Centre Spread)

Story: Mabel Aku Baneseh

THE Accra Fast Track High on Thursday gave counsel for Detective Corporal Dwamena Yabson, one of the policemen who is standing trial with two others for allegedly aiding Sheriff Asem Dakeh to abscond with 2,280 kilogrammes of cocaine, a week to file his written address to enable the court to fix a date for judgement.
The court, presided over by Mr Justice Annin Yeboah, an Appeal Court judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, warned that if counsel did not file the written address on behalf of Yabson by November 22, 2007, the court would move to fix a date for judgement.
Counsel for two of the accused persons, Sergeant David Nyarko and General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin, have filed their written addresses.
The three, who have since closed their defence, were alleged to have received an unspecified amount in dollars from Dakeh and allowed him to flee.
They have each been charged with two counts of engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and corruption by a public officer and have pleaded not guilty to both counts.
The prosecution called 10 witnesses who gave evidence against the accused persons, but the accused persons, on their part, testified and claimed innocence in the charges levelled against them.
On October 16, 2007, the Fast Track High Court ordered both the prosecution and the defence team to file their written addresses on or before November 14, 2007.
The prosecution is expected to verbally reply to the defence team's written addresses on November 22, the next adjourned date.