Asem Darkey
Sheriff Christian Asem Darkey, the businessman standing trial at an Accra Fast Track High Court for allegedly importing 77 cocaine parcels using the MV Benjamin vessel, has indicated that he has no witnesses to call.
He subsequently closed his case to enable the court to fix a date for the filing of addresses.
Counsel for Asem Darkey, popularly called Limping man, Isaac Aidoo, yesterday told the Accra Fast Track High Court that the defence call any witnesses and consequently wished to close its case.
The judge, Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh, then told both the prosecuting state attorney, Mrs. Yvonne Obuobisa and Mr. Aidoo that he would adjourn the case to February 25, 2014 to enable the court to make a record of proceedings ready.
It is expected that a date for filing of addresses might be filed on the adjourned date.
The accused person accompanied by his wife, Ruby Afedo and some friends and sympathizers, left after he was whisked away by some Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) officers.
Denies Crew
Asem Darkey on Monday denied knowledge of the MV Benjamin crew.
The accused person, in his cross-examination by principal state attorney, Mrs. Yvonne Obuobisa, told Justice Logoh that the crew captain and other crew members ?did not identify him as the person who sent? them to import any cocaine.
When asked why he did not turn himself in after he heard the news that he was wanted, the accused person said he was taken ill and was not in Accra.
He said he went to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment but was told he had one damaged lung and needed to undergo surgery.
He then made up his mind to turn himself in after the surgery, but was arrested before he could undergo the medical procedure.
The state attorney put it to him that John Kojo Dawson, one of the directors of the vessel, had testified that once the charter agreement was signed, he had ownership of the vessel.
Limping Man denied he had complete possession of the MV Benjamin and said for him to have possession of a vessel, he needed to get all the necessary documents of the vessel and maintained that he waited for the directors to bring the documents but they never did.
When asked if he knew a certain Alfred Nii Sowah, the accused person answered in the affirmative and said he had known the said person as a taxi driver for a long time.
Mrs. Obuobisa put it to Limping Man that on April 26, 2006, he instructed Sowah to send some persons to the Kpone beach near Tema, which he denied.
The suspect further denied sending three fishermen to his house after they helped him offload the 76 parcels of cocaine. Three fishermen had testified in camera that he took them to his house in his Toyota Land Cruiser and gave them money.
In addition, he stated that the said Land Cruiser had developed a mechanical fault and was parked at his brother?s house.
The suspect, when asked if he knew any Police Corporals by name Amoah and Bondorin who admitted taking money from him and giving $10,000 to the fishermen, said he did not know them.
The prosecuting attorney put it to him that one of the investigators called ASP Justice Oppong had told the court that various masks used for covering the mouth and nose were found in a hidden compartment in his house.
Asem Darkey explained that as a fisherman, the masks were for various purposes at sea and said it should have been brought to the court for him to demonstrate their uses.
Explaining further, he said the house was already built before he rented it and could not have created a hidden compartment on his own.
The accused person denied he conspired with Jill Bai, the captain and a Korean national, among others, to import the 77 cocaine parcels.
He said the vessel was used to tow one of his vessels which had developed mechanical fault.
He said he was aware cocaine importation was an offence under the laws of Ghana and could not do such a thing.
The case has been adjourned to today.
He said his friend called Charwetey introduced him to the MV Benjamin crew and owner in January 2006 and since they also dealt in fish, he arranged with them for the sale of the vessel to him for $150,000 but they were not able to meet to finalize the agreement.
Under cross-examination by Yvonne Obuobisa, the suspect said he was arrested at Community 5, Site 21, but before then, he was at his village in the Volta Region.
He also stated that he moved to Ghana from Togo and Nigeria due to his asthma and admitted that although he was declared wanted by the police he did not communicate it to his relations or friends.
When asked what the MV Benjamin was used for, Limping Man said it was used to tow one of his vessels which had developed a fault off the coast of Guinea Conakry.
The accused person was charged with conspiracy, importation and exportation of narcotic drugs following his arrest on February 2, 2011 after going into hiding in 2006.
Several persons had been tried and jailed in connection with the importation of the cocaine including the MV Benjamin crew, its owner, and police officers who were found guilty of turning a blind eye to persons offloading the drugs at the shores of Kpone near Tema.
By Fidelia Achama
