Accra, June 1, GNA - A Prosecution Witness in the missing 76 parcels of cocaine on board MV Benjamin, on Friday tendered in evidence, items, cash and a box of twenty-five out of thirty slabs of cocaine. Police Detective Inspector Charles Adaba, the thirteenth Prosecution Witness in the case who was continuing his evidence in-chief, told an Accra Fast Track High Court: "When the box containing the cocaine got to me from the Narcotics Control Board, five of the slabs were already missing".

The accused crew members are Pak Bok Sil, 46, a Korean Engineer, Isaac Arhin, 49, a sailor and Philip Kobina Bruce Arhin, 47, a mechanic both Ghanaians, Cui Xing Li, 44, a Chinese sailor, and Luo Yin Xing, 49, a sailor and also a Chinese.

Isaac Arhin, Philip Arhin, Cui and Luo are charged with 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, who allegedly used his vessel for narcotic offence, is together with Pak, charged with engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotics. They have denied any knowledge of the offence and are in Police custody.

Led in evidence by Mr William Kpobi, Principal State Attorney, Detective Adaba contended that Sherrif Asem Deke, alias Limping man, now on the run, is the man behind the importation of the cocaine. According to him, investigation revealed that Asem used his Toyota Land cruiser to cart the cocaine from the Kpone beach and later parked the vehicle in the house of Mr. Evans Charwetey Tsekobi, a brother to Asem at Kokompe near Kpone.

"My Lord, we went to the house of Asem at Tema Community five and retrieved a picture of him and Kwak Yeo Sing alias Killer".

Detective Inspector Adaba said a number of items were retrieved from Asem's house, which included a single barreled gun, 90 rounds of nine mm. ammunition, 55 cartridges, a life jacket and car number plates.

These items together with cash of 2,850 Dollars and 3.5 million cedi were tendered in evidence. The defense team did not object to any of the items.

Witness stated that on April 27, last year the National Security personnel went on board the MV Benjamin vessel and impounded it, adding: "It is currently berthed at the Tema harbour in the custody of the police".

Detective Inspector Adaba stressed that Asem secured a loan of 250 million cedis from the Unique Trust Financial Services, purposely for marine fuel for the vessel.

He said the Loan Agreement Form had the picture and signature of Asem, as the General Manager of Attico Fisheries Company Limited. The same signature appeared on the Chartered Agreement Form which had Charwetey's name and signed as one of the Directors. The Prosecution had earlier told the court On February 6, 2006 Dawson, who is also a businessman, without lawful authority and with the intention of facilitating an enterprise relating to narcotic drugs, did allow one Asem Dake a.k.a. Sheriff to use his vessel (MV Benjamin/MV Adede) to import 77 parcels of cocaine each weighting 30 kilograms into the country without a license from the Ministry of Health. Pak is also said to have repaired the MV Benjamin vessel to facilitate the transportation of the 77 parcels of cocaine from Takoradi to Tema.

On April 27, 2006, Isaac, Philip, Cui and Luo, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel, allegedly had in their possession one parcel containing 30 slabs of cocaine, each, weighing about one kilogram. The case has been adjourned for June 13. 1 June 07