Accra, Oct. 18, GNA - Joseph Kojo Dawson, owner of the vessel MV Benjamin on Thursday said the vessel was supposed to tow a distressed vessel from the high seas but not to cart cocaine. "The chartered agreement was to tow a distress vessel which has broken down on the high seas at Conakry".

Dawson, also the Managing Director of Dashment Fishing Company was opening his defence in the 77 parcels of cocaine missing case at an Accra Fast Track Court in which he is alleged to have used his vessel to cart cocaine on board MV Benjamin last April. The crew standing trial with Dawson are; Isaac Arhin, a 49 year-old sailor, Philip Kobina Bruce Arhin, a 47 year-old mechanic, Cui Xing Li, a 44 year-old Chinese sailor, and Luo Yin Xing, a 49 year-old sailor.

Isaac Arhin, Philip Arhin, Cui and Luo are charged for possessing narcotic drugs without authority and engaging in prohibited business. Joseph Kojo Dawson, the owner of the vessel and Managing Director of Dashment Company Limited, is being tried for using his property (vessel) for narcotic offence.

They have pleaded not guilty and are in Police custody. Isaac, Philip, Cui and Luo on April 27, 2006, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel, allegedly had in their possession one slab containing 30 parcels each weighing about one kilogram. Led in evidence by Mr D.K Ameley, his counsel, Dawson said he chartered the vessel to Sheriff Asem Dake a k a Limping man, who is on the run and that he was surprised when he was informed that MV Benjamin was arrested for transporting narcotic drugs without lawful authority' He said, "I know that the vessel was docked at Takoradi Harbour". Counsel: Did they tell you the vessel was going to cart cocaine? Dawson: No, my Lord.

According to Dawson, he has two other vessels namely, MV Azaga 12 and MV Cirues and that MV Benjamin was bought under hire purchase agreement of 600 thousand US dollar to be paid in a period of eight years but he was able to pay 100 thousand US dollars and was unable to pay on schedule and thus accruing interest.

He said he did not have full ownership of MV Benjamin since final payment had not been effected.

He said, in January 2006, anytime the vessel went on fishing expedition it did not bring much and continued to run at a loss and one time developed a fault and efforts acquire spare parts for it proved futile.

Dawson said, Mr Bae told him that he has discharged the entire expatriate employees back to their various countries, leaving a skeleton Ghanaian crew to manage to bring it to Ghana, where it docked at Takoradi Harbour in the care of one George.

Counsel; did the vessel come to Ghana?

Dawson; The fault was adjusted and the vessel docked at Takoradi Harbours in June 2005, and the Ghanaian crew were paid off. He said in November 2005, he (Dawson)and Mr Bae held a meeting that the vessel should be sold but Bae travelld to Las Palmas and returned in January to inform him that he was in the process to sell the vessel to a Ghanaian.

Dawson said, Mr Bae later told him that a Ghanaian wanted to use it to toll its distress vessel at the high seas, so with their lawyers and witnesses including Sheriff, the chartered agreement was signed on February 6 2006.

Counsel; Do you know who drafted the agreement?

Dawson: The agreement was done already.

Counsel: Did your lawyer have a look at it?

Dawson: When he went through he said, "Everything was in order".

Counsel; was the sale agreement the only agreement signed that day?

Dawson: No my Lord, the chartered agreement was also signed. The document was prepared on 25th January 2006 but was signed on 6th February 2006.

Dawson said according to the agreement the vessel should sail first to know its sea worthiness of which a down payment of 150,000 US dollars should be paid and the final payment of 100,000 US dollars should be made on or before January 2006 but Mr Bae defied the agreement and sailed with the vessel without any payment.

He said the Charterer, Sheriff, must take the full responsibly of the supply of fuel recruitment and payment of the crew. Dawson said on the 15 of February 2006 he went to Takoradi to discharge fish on one of his fishing trawlers, MV Cirues which landed there in the company of his wife and his eight months old baby and spent four days there.

He said at that time MV Benjamin was there.

"I saw Isaac Arhin, the third accused around MV Benjamin, along side MV Cirues when he came to ask for fish", Dawson said. Counsel: Did you give him?

Dawson Yes, I gave him.

Counsel: Did you know him previously?

Dawson: He was on MV Benjamin before I chartered it to Sheriff.

Counsel: Did you find out what he was doing there?

Dawson: No, My Lord. I did not find out.

Dawson said on April 27 2006, his secretary informed him that some armed men and Naval officers had come to the office and told him that MV Benjamin had been arrested so he went to report to National Security that the vessel had been chartered to Sheriff since January 2006 and that he (Sheriff) had defaulted in payment.

He said he later called Sheriff to pay the debt but Sheriff told him that he (Sheriff) was indisposed and that his driver would send the money to him.

He said, he wanted to help the security agencies to arrest Sheriff because he could identify him but "the armed men including Ben Ndego, interdicted Director of Narcotic Control Board (NACOB) declined his help".

Hearing continues on 25 October, 20907.

The court on October 16, this year acquitted and discharged Pak Bok Sil, 46 year-old Korean Engineer, because no prima facie case was established against him. The court said his services were only hired to repair the vessel for which he was paid.