[ 2012-03-08 ]

Prosecutors on Asem Dake case seek AG's advice
State prosecutors persecuting the fugitive
involved in the importation of 77 parcels of
cocaine on board the notorious MV Benjamin Vessel,
yesterday told the court that the investigation
team handling the case had forwarded the duplicate
docket to the Attorney General for advice.

The prosecutor, DSP A.A. Annor who stated on the
last adjournment that investigators of the case
were on the verge of rounding up with the inquiry,
mentioned that the first docket was with the AG
and that it was believed that once the duplicate
was forwarded to the AG he will be able to
reconcile both and come with the advice.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Audrey
Kocuvie-Tay, once again denied the accused person
bail, following the bail application by his
counsel.

Counsel for accused person pointed out that the
duplicate docket was supposed to present to the AG
as part of the former docket, adding that
prosecution was deliberately delaying the trial.

The accused person, Christian Asem Dake a.k.a
Limping Man, pleaded not guilty to charges of
conspiracy to commit crime, possession of narcotic
drugs without unlawful authority, and importing
and transportation of narcotic drugs without
license.

The case was therefore, adjourned to March 21,
2012. the prosecuting officer who presented the
facts of the case, had informed the court that on
April 26, 2006, intelligence gathered indicated
that a shipping vessel called MV Benjamin was on
the high seas carrying about 77 parcels of cocaine
and heading towards West Africa coast specifically
Ghana.

He said around midnight the same day, the said
vessel docked at Tema/Kpone and discharged the 77
parcels, which were offloaded into a waiting
vehicle and taken away.

According to him investigations led to the arrest
of a number of persons who were put before various
courts, tried and convicted to various prison
terms.

He mentioned that during the course of the trials
of the suspects, the name of Asem Dake featured
prominently as the importer and owner of the 77
parcels.

He therefore told the courts that ‘Limping Man’
chartered a vessel at the cost of $150,000 to
transport another vessel carrying the narcotic
drugs from Guinea, and which were then offloaded
into the MV Benjamin on the high seas.

The prosecutor said the accused person reportedly
carted the 77 parcels from the vessel on its
arrival at Kpone.

According to him on Thursday, February 2, 2012,
Asem Dake was arrested at the Korle-Bu Teaching
Hospital upon a tip-off, and consequently
arraigned.

The police picked up and handed over to the Bureau
of nation investigations BNI to commence
investigations into the case.

Source - The Chronicle

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