An Accra circuit court has once again adjourned the trial of the case involving the Lower Manya Krobo constituency youth organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), David Tettey Kwame and seven others.
This was because the trial judge, Francis Obiri, was on a month’s leave.
The judge had on two occasions adjourned the case at the instance of the state prosecutor, DSP Aidan Dery, who was indisposed.
The other accused persons are Derrick Appiah Kubi, Edwin Quincy Arthur, agent; Nii Sai Ashley, Fredrick Ato Hawkins - all clearing agents; Daniel Kofi Asare, loading boy; Samuel Anim Bediako, freight forwarder; David Tettey Kwame, freight forwarder and one Papa Yaw aka Fredrick Amoah, currently at large.
At yesterday’s, sitting, the case could not be heard even though DSP Dery and the accused persons were in court.
It may be recalled that at the previous sitting, the investigator in the case had said that the prosecution was yet to receive a report on the substance it had sent to the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) for testing.
The case was adjourned to March 31, 2015.
The prosecution, led by DSP Dery, averred that the accused persons on December 16, 2014 at the Aviance Cargo Village at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra, conspired and engaged in prohibited business relating to narcotics, contrary to Section 3(2) of the Narcotics Drugs Control (Enforcement and Sanctions) Law of 1990.
According to the prosecution, the accused person, without lawful authority, did undertake the activity for the purpose of promoting an enterprise relating to narcotic drugs by assisting to clear five parcels, each containing about 1.2 kg of heroin.
DSP Dery had told the court that the accused persons are clearing agents, except Kofi Asare who is a loading boy, and that the other six operate at the Aviance Cargo Village at the KIA.
He said Anim Bediako is the Managing Director of Clearfreight Shipping Agencies Limited in Tema, with an office at the Aviance Cargo Village where David Tettey Kwame, the NDC youth organiser, works.
DSP Dery stated that on the said date, Anim Bediako received instructions from Papa Yaw to clear three packages at the KIA for him and that Anim Bediako, who also said he operates at KIA, delegated Kwame to clear the items.
He said David Tettey was said to have contracted Appiah Kubi to clear the items on his behalf.
Prosecution further told the court that following a tip-off that an imminent shipment of drugs was destined for Ghana via Air Cargo to Accra on December 9, 2014, officers from the National Counter Narcotics Centre (NCNC), in collaboration with their counterparts from the surveillance unit of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), were detailed to conduct surveillance activities at the Aviance Cargo Village.
DSP Dery indicated that on December 11, 2014, Arthur was identified to have initiated the clearing processes, adding that he was successful in facilitating the movement of the packages from the holding shelf to the electronic security check point.
He said that in the course of the surveillance, the culprits were nabbed for possessing a substance suspected to be cocaine.
He said further investigations led to the arrest of Anim Bediako on December 24, last year and David Tettey Kwame on January 2, 2015.
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