No show at cocaine suspects’ trial ; Court to rule on bail application today
Prosecutors yesterday failed to show up to prosecute the six persons accused of allegedly playing various roles to assist Ruby Nayele Ametefeh to export 12.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom.
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Officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) brought the accused persons, who were met in court by their lawyers, but there was no representation from the Attorney-General’s Department when the case was called.
The state was expected to start calling its witnesses yesterday.
Their absence was met with disapproval from lawyers for the accused persons, prompting the court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, to invite the lawyers to renew their bail applications.
The lawyers urged the prosecution to announce if it was not ready to prosecute the case because the rights and liberties of their clients were at stake.
The court has, since the beginning of December 2014, refused to grant the accused persons bail.
Accused persons
The accused persons are Alhaji Mohammed Dawood, a businessman; Sadala Nuhu and Nana Akua Amponsah, both businesswomen; Abiel Ashitey Armah, a Foreign Service officer; Ahmed Abubakar, a protocol officer, and Theophilus Kissi, a civil servant.
A team of lawyers had, on December 8, 2014, moved separate bail applications for the accused persons and argued that the facts of the case did not match the charges levelled against their clients, but the court, on December 12, 2014, declined to grant them bail.
Following the renewal of the bail applications by the lawyers, the court is expected to rule on the issue today.
Charges
Sadala and Nana Akua are alleged to have, on or about November 9, 2014, conspired with Ametefeh, aka Ruby Appiah or Ruby Adu Gyamfi, to export the said narcotic drug.
The prosecution said Armah was, on November 9, 2014, contracted by Alhaji Dawood to facilitate the passage of Ametefeh and the two other ladies through the VIP Lounge at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
It said Armah consequently instructed Abubakar and Kissi to assist the three ladies.
According to the prosecution, Ametefeh, Sadala and Nana Akua were ushered through the VIP Lounge of the KIA by Abubakar and Kissi to board a British Airways aircraft bound for the UK.
Abubakar and Kissi were also alleged to have facilitated departure formalities for the three ladies and consequently carried their luggage onto the aircraft.
A man in a black suit brought in another luggage, which was handed over to Ametefeh in the aircraft.
Ametefeh was arrested in the UK.
The following day, Sadala flew to Paris in France and boarded a flight to Togo before coming to Ghana.
Nana Akua also bolted to Ghana later.
Ruby Ametefeh
Ametefeh was arrested at the Heathrow Airport on November 10, 2014 after she was found to be in possession of 12.5 kilogrammes of cocaine.
She has since pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in the UK and will be sentenced on January 5, 2015.