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