Accra, Sept. 28, GNA 96 Four out of five Policemen standing trial for their involvement in the disappearance of 77 parcels of cocaine from MV Benjamin vessel reappeared at an Accra Circuit Court on fresh charges on Thursday.

The five Policemen were granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court last Monday after the Prosecution substituted original charges brought against them.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey countermanded the decision of the Chief State Attorney, Mr Cab-Beyuo, who withdrew the original abetment charge and substituted it with extortion.

The four, who were in court, were General Sergeant Daniel Nyarko, Detective Lance Corporal Dwamena Yabson, General Sergeant Isaac Asante and General Lance Corporal Peter Bondorin. The fifth Policeman, Detective Sergeant Samuel Amoah, was absent from court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

Also charged with the five Policemen is Sheriff Dake, a Businessman. He was also absent from court. All the six have been charged with conspiracy, importation of narcotic drugs, abetment of crime, possession of narcotic drugs and doing prohibitive business relating to narcotic drugs. Their pleas were not taken.

Their Counsel was not present in court.

Ms Gertrude Aikins, Chief State Attorney, pleaded with the Court to remand them in custody to prevent them from interfering with the investigations.She said the country at the moment was being suffocated with cocaine. Ms Aikins said under the Constitution any person arrested on a suspicion of dealing in narcotic drugs should be put before court. "In order not to fall foul to the law, we have brought them before you."

The Court adjourned the case to October 27.

Mr Ghartey on Tuesday ordered the re-arrest of the five Policemen believed to have knowledge of the missing cocaine on board MV Benjamin. The five had been granted 300 million cedi bail each on Monday by an Accra Circuit Court with one surety to be justified after the Prosecution withdrew charges of abetment and substituted it with extortion.

Mr Ghartey, who is also the Minister of Justice, told the Ghana News Agency that his Office had countermanded the decision of the Chief State Attorney, Mr Cab-Beyuo, who withdrew the abetment charge and substituted it with extortion. He said fresh charges were to be preferred against the suspects.

He said he read about what happened in court in the papers and immediately ordered the re-arrest of the suspects since he believed the Chief State Attorney erred. Mr Ghartey said: "The Prosecutor erred by not consulting his immediate superior or the Attorney-General before his action of changing the charges."

He said for the officers to have escorted Sheriff, aka Limping Man, who is said to have offloaded the missing 77 parcels of cocaine at Kpone, near Tema, indicated aiding and abetting. Mr Ghartey said the Policemen in this matter were not by the roadside collecting bribe but assisted the process of the importation of the cocaine.

He said it was an error of judgement on the part of Mr Cab-Beyuo since only the Attorney-General had the power to change charges preferred against accused persons.

According to the Prosecution, on April 26, 2006, the accused persons stationed at Tema New Town; Community One; Tema and Kpone had information that Sheriff, now at large, was taking delivery of parcels of cocaine at Kpone Beach, near Tema. They were said to have abetted with him to offload the missing 77 parcels of cocaine.

The accused persons mobilized themselves to arrest Sheriff. They went and saw the parcels but on the contrary ignored it. The Prosecution said the accused persons went on a ride in Sheriff's vehicle to his residence where they took some money and allowed him to go. The Prosecution said their acts contravened the laws of the State and it would lead evidence to prove their case. The disappearance of the 77 parcels of cocaine had led to extensive investigation and publicity leading to the establishment of the Justice Georgina Wood Committee, which has recently submitted its report. Senior Police Officers have been mentioned while some suspects are standing trial at an Accra High Court.

The Justice Georgina Wood Committee presented its report to Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister of the Interior at the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Accra on Friday. The Report, whose content was not disclosed, was to be passed on promptly to the Attorney-General's Department for its comments and advice.

The Committee was set up July 4, 2006 to investigate the disappearance of 77 parcels of cocaine from MV Benjamin and an alleged 200,000 dollars bribe paid to Senior Police Officers by a 23-year-old woman, Ms Grace Asibi.

Ms Asibi is the girlfriend of a Venezuelan drug fugitive Vasquez Geraldo Duarte David, who is at the centre of the seizure of some 588 kilograms of cocaine from a house at East Legon in Accra. Mr Ghartey said his outfit would study the Report and advise the Government accordingly. "We shall advise and prosecute not persecute without fear, favour, ill-will or hatred towards any person. "We shall do what we have to do in accordance with the law. "Let us all remember the words of the President when he reminded us recently that no one is above the law. "Let us also remember that in our legal jurisprudence everyone is innocent unless proven guilty. For those who we have grounds to believe are guilty, we shall seek to prove this in a court of law."