General News of Monday, 25 August 2008

Source: GNA

Goodies said to be indisposed

Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - The case of Isaac Abeiku Aidoo, aka Goodies, a popular music producer, facing charges of attempted exportation of cocaine, was on Monday adjourned to September 5, when the case was called before an Accra Circuit Court.

But the court, presided over by Mr Mahamadu Iddrisu expressed concern about the turn of events after he had been informed that Abeiku was sick again and he therefore could not appear before the court.

According to the trial judge the case had been adjourned twice since it was referred to him because the excuse given to the court was that he was indisposed.

The judge said if the accused was indeed sick he should be sent to the hospital for treatment saying he doubted if he was in prison custody because he had not produced any documents to prove that he was sick. The judge said he was being compelled to go to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons to verify.

A prison officer who was in court, however, confirmed that Abeiku was in prison custody.

When the case was called in Court, his lawyer, Mr Jah Mosia, informed the court that his client was indisposed and he could not make it to court.

He therefore prayed the court to grant them a short date by which time his client would have recovered. The court obliged and adjourned the case.

Abeiku has been remanded by the court after expelling 80 pellets of drugs suspected to be cocaine. He is facing charges for attempted exportation of 80 pellets of drugs suspected to be cocaine and possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority.

Abeiku, Chief Executive Officer of Goodies Music Production, has pleaded not guilty.

The case, as presented earlier by the prosecution was that on April 23, this year he arrived at the Kotoka International Airport at about 10:45 pm to board a Ghana International Airlines flight to London.

The prosecution said while going through departure formalities, operatives of the Narcotic Control Board suspected him of carrying drugs in his stomach.

He was therefore escorted to the 37 Military Hospital for X-ray, where it was revealed that he had some foreign materials in his stomach. Abeiku was arrested and put under surveillance and he expelled 80 pellets of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine.

During Police interrogation, he said one Abdul Haid, a musician residing at East Legon, Accra, gave the drugs to him to be delivered to one Willie for a fee of 3,000 dollars.

The prosecution said he, however, failed to lead the Police to arrest the said Abdul.