General News of Monday, 2 February 2015
Source: Daily Guide
The Lower Manya Krobo constituency Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), David Tettey Kama, who was arrested in connection with heroin at the Aviance Cargo Village at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), has been granted bail by an Accra Human Rights court.
David, who is standing trial along with six other suspects, was granted bail by the court on Thursday, even though narcotics cases are not bailable.
He had been remanded into the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for allegedly engaging in narcotics by an Accra circuit court where they are expected to make another appearance on Friday, February 6, 2015.
The accused persons are Derrick Appiah Ktibi, clearing agent; Edwin Quincy Arthur, clearing agent; Nii Sai Ashley, clearing agent; Daniel Kofi Asare, loading boy; Fredrick Ato Hawkins, clearing agent; Samuel Anim Bediako, freight forwarder; David Tettey Kwame, freight forwarder and one Papa Yaw aka Fredrick Amoan, currently at large.
The NDC youth organiser, who is said to be an aide to the MP for the area, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, was reportedly seen at the weekend in the company of NDC gurus.
Mr Terlabi, a former deputy Defence Minister, now a Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, distanced himself from the drug suspect, but sources said he was on KW Radio, Kpong, allegedly defending the youth organiser.
David and the other suspects, according to the prosecution led by DSP Aidan Dery, had on December 16,2014 at the Aviance Cargo Village at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, conspired and engaged in prohibited business relating to narcotics, contrary to Section 3(2) of the Narcotics Drugs control Enforcement and Sanctions Law of 1990.
According to the prosecution, the accused person, without lawful authority, did undertake the activity for the purpose of promoting an enterprise relating to narcotic drugs by assisting to clear five parcels each containing about 1.2 kilograms of heroin.
Expected to make their third appearance in court on February 6,2015 in a court presided over by Francis Obiri, all seven accused persons have pleaded not guilty.
MTN shocked
The former Member of Parliament for Lower Manya Krobo constituency in the Eastern Region, Michael Teye Nyaunu, popularly known as MTN, expressed shock about the arrest of the NDC youth organiser over an alleged cocaine deal.
The former MP noted that it was very shameful and a disgrace for a ruling party to have its youth organizer to engage in such an act.
According to him, the youth organiser should rather be a role model who must show good leadership for his people to emulate but not engage in such a disgraceful act.
Mr Nyaunu was speaking on Right FM, a Somanya-based radio station.
“I am surprised that the MP came out to say he doesn’t know David. How possible? David is an NDC party executive so the MP knows him, because as an MP of an area, you have a close relationship with your party executives,” Nyaunu stated.