Accra, May 17, GNA - Mr Philip Thomas Harrison, an international forensic voice scientist, on Thursday told an Accra Fast Track High Court that there was no evidence showing that the controversial Kofi Boakye's tape had been edited.

Mr. Harrison, the 10th tenth prosecution witness, was testifying in a case in which Kwabena Amaming aka Tagor and Alhaji Issa Abass, alleged self-confessed drug barons, are being held for drug-related offence. He also stated that the conversation between ACP Kofi Boakye was recorded on a micro-cassette and copied unto compact disc (CD).

Tagor has additionally been charged with carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs, buying and supplying of narcotic drugs, while Abass is being held for carrying out prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs and supplying narcotic drugs.

They have pleaded not guilty before the court, presided over by Mr Justice Jones Dotse. They have been remanded in custody.

Led in evidence Mr. Agyemang Daudu, Principal State Attorney, Mr Harrison said the conversation was not stage-managed was a natural one. The witness who worked on the authenticity of the CD mentioned background noise, uninterrupted speeches by participants and some characteristics of a natural speech to indicate that the conversation was natural.

He admitted that the ACP Kofi Boakye tape and other copies of the recorded conversation had the same duration of the recording. That, the witness said, denoted that the conversation was borne on a micro cassette.

He maintained that there was a natural flow in the language, adding that the content and authenticity flowed very well. Answering questions under cross-examination by Mr Sarfo Baubeng, counsel for Abass, witness admitted that 98 per cent of the said conversation was in Twi.

He maintained that he did not understand the Twi language and therefore sought the assistance of Dr Kofi Agyekum of the University of Ghana. He agreed with counsel that the tape had a 14-second break at the initial stages of the recording. The case of the prosecution is that the accused are self-confessed drug barons who since 2004 had been actively engaged in activities of promoting and establishing various enterprises relating to narcotic drugs.

Hearing continues on May 22.