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.