General News of Saturday, 18 November 2006

Source: GNA

Drama in Coke Case: Alhaji Moro Discharged

Accra, Nov. 17, GNA - An Accra Regional Tribunal chaired by Mr Justice Frank Manu on Friday discharged Alhaji Moro and three other suspects, who had been held in connection with the missing 76 parcels of cocaine from MV Benjamin.

The Prosecution entered a nolle prosequi, as the Attorney General (AG) said it would not continue with the prosecution of the case against the accused persons.

The effect of a nolle prosequi, when obtained, is to discharge the defendant, but it does not operate as an acquittal; for he may be afterwards re-indicted, and even upon the same indictment, fresh process may be awarded.

"The state intends that the proceedings against Alhaji Moro, a businessman, Joseph Kojo Dawson, a businessman, Freeman Sosi, a fisherman and a canoe owner, and Evans Charwetey Tsekobi, an auto mechanic, should not continue," Ms Gertrude Aikins, Chief State Attorney, told the court.

"For now, as far as this case is concerned, the AG is letting them off the hook," she said.

The Tribunal heeded the decision and discharged all the four accused persons accordingly.

The four accused persons were not in court but their counsels represented them.

They were charged with various counts of conspiracy to commit crime and abetment of crime contrary to Sections 556 and 10 of the Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement and Sanctions) Law 1990, PNDC L236. The facts of the case were not read.