Accra, Nov. 30, GNA – The case of the five-member crew on board the MV Benjamin/MV Adede, and the owner of the vessel was on Thursday adjourned to December 8 because there was no Korean interpreter. However, a Chinese interpreter appeared in court following an order by the Court to its Registrar to seek the assistance of the Korean and Chinese Embassies for interpreters.
Neither the pleas of the accused taken nor were their charges read. The accused are; Pak Bok Sil, a 46 year old Korean Engineer; 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.
With them in the dock was Jospeh Kojo Dawson, the owner of the Vessel.
Dawson is being held for using his property for narcotic offence while Pak is also being held for engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotics.
Isaac Arhin, Philip Arhin, Cui, and Luo are charged for possessing narcotic drugs without authority and engaging in prohibited business. The Court noted that it would be unfair for it to take the pleas of some of the accused and leave the other out. The Court repeated its earlier order asking the Registrar to make efforts to get a Korean interpreter for Pak so that the trial could begin.
When sitting began the two Chinese namely Cui and Luo informed the Court that they had no counsels and prayed it to assist them. On the pleas of the two Chinese, the Court said the offence under which the accused persons had been charged did not fall under those that the Court should assist them get legal aid.
It further asked the Prosecution to make their witnesses available so that the trial could begin.
The charge sheet says on February 6 2006, Dawson, who is also a businessman, indirectly without lawful authority and with the intention of facilitating an enterprise relating to narcotic drugs, did allow one Asem Darkei aka Sheriff to use his vessel (MV Benjamin/MV Adede) to import 77 parcels each containing 30 kilograms of cocaine into the country without a licence issued by the Minister 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.
Isaac, Philip, Cui and Luo, who were on board the MV Benjamin vessel on April 27, 2006, allegedly had in their possession one parcel containing 30 slabs of cocaine each weighing about one kilogram. 30 Nov. 06
Source: GhanaWeb
