General News of Saturday, 16 August 2008

Source: GNA

Man arrested with cocaine in soup freed

Accra, Aug. 15, GNA - Mr. Emmanuel Kweku Darkey, a 50 year-old Ghanaian based in the United Kingdom who was arrested for allegedly concealing 60 kilograms of cocaine in cans labelled "Ghana Fresh Palm Nut Base" was on Friday acquitted and discharged by an Accra Fast Track High Court.

The court in its judgment concluded that the prosecution failed to prove a case against Darkey.

In criminal matter, the onus lay on the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt but the prosecution was not able to do this.

The drugs concealed in 60 cans were intercepted at the Aviance Cargo Village in October last year.

Darkey was arrested by security personnel when he allegedly attempted to export the cocaine with street value of three million dollars to the United Kingdom.

Darkey pleaded not guilty to attempted exportation of narcotic drugs.

In October last year, security personnel suspected the movement of boxes containing vegetables and arrested Kirk Patrick Bekoe, the freight forwarder, who became a prosecution witness. He in turn led them to arrest Darkey.

Dakey during interrogation claimed he came to Ghana to purchase vegetables and the consignment was allegedly given to him by one Michael Osei to add to his but he did not know the content.