Limping Man's Trial Adjourned to June 18

The trial of Christain Asem Dake, alias the ‘Limping Man’, the prime suspect in the importation of the 77 parcels of cocaine in the infamous MV Benjamin Vessel has been adjourned to June 18.

Witnesses subpoena by the state were suppose to continue with their evidence in court yesterday but the trial judge, Justice Mustapha Habib Logoh was said to be on an official assignment outside the jurisdiction which resulted in both counsels taking a date.

The prosecution provided two witnesses at the last adjourned date who gave evidence in camera due to the sensitive nature of the case.

Information gathered by The Finder indicated that the witnesses who had agreed to give evidence in court would not want their identity to be known and therefore requested to either disguise themselves or give evidence in the judge’s chamber which the judge granted before hearing began on June 1.

Asem Dake on May 28 pleaded not guilty to five fresh charges of conspiracy to transport narcotics without lawful authority, Importation of narcotics without license from the Ministry of Health, possession of narcotic, undertaking prohibited business in relation to narcotic and corruption of public officer at an Accra Fast Track High Court.

He was re-arrested minutes after he was discharged with another accomplice called Alfred Nii Sowah by an Accra Circuit Court after the state entered a nolle prosequi.

Mr Owusu Ameyaw, a state attorney told the court that the state had concluded investigations and would send the accused persons to a high court to face fresh charges.
Asem Dake was arrested on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital upon a tip-off.
The facts of the case are that on April 26, 2006, intelligence gathered indicated that a shipping vessel called MV Benjamin was on the high seas carrying about 77 parcels of cocaine and heading towards the West African Coast, specifically Ghana.
Around midnight the same day, the said vessel docked at Tema /Kpone and discharged the 77 parcels which were offloaded into a waiting vehicle and taken away.
According to prosecution, investigations led to the arrest of a number of persons who were put before various courts, tried and convicted to various prison terms.
They said during the course of the trials of the suspects, the name of Asem Dake featured prominently as the importer and owner of the 77 parcels.
Furthermore, the prosecution noted that investigations also revealed that Limping Man chattered the vessel at the cost of $150,000 and used it to bring another vessel carrying the narcotic drugs from Guinea which were then offloaded into MV Benjamin on the high seas.
In addition the accused person reportedly carted the 77 parcels from the vessel on its arrival at Kpone.