I didn't know my brother's business

Evans Charwetey Tsekobi, brother of Sherrif Asem Dake, the man at the centre of the missing 76 parcels of cocaine on board the MV Benjamin vessel, has said he did not know the kind of trade his brother was engaged in.

Testifying in the case in which the vessel owner and five crew members at the Fast Track High Court are being tried, Tsekobi said he did not know that his brother was the managing director of Atico Fisheries.

The crew is made up of 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.

Isaac Arhin, Philip Arhin, Cui and Luo are charged for possessing narcotic drugs without authority and engaging in prohibited business.

Joseph Kojo Dawson, the owner of the vessel, who is being held for using his property for narcotic offence and Pak are facing the charge of engaging in prohibited business relating to narcotics.

They have pleaded not guilty and are in Police in custody.

Led in evidence by Mr William Kpobi, Principal State Attorney, Tsekobi, a mechanic, said he had been in Cantonments Police cells for the past nine months.

According to him he arrived in the house and found that his room had been ransacked and a car belonging to Sherrif had been towed away by Police.

Tsekobi said he went to the Police at Kpone and was informed that the car had been sent to the Police headquarters where he was detained.

When a charter document bearing Sherrif's signature was shown to him, Tsekobi said he had never seen his brother's signature. He, however, admitted that he had repaired one or two vehicles belonging to Sherrif.

Next to mount the witness box was Chief Superintendent Alhaji Bukari Yakubu, a document designer and head of Police Forensic Department.

He told the court that he examined documents on Joseph Dawson and five others.

The documents, the 11th prosecution witness said were brought in by Police Inspector Charles Adaba.

Witness said the document included Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA) vessel moving card in respect of the MV Benjamin vessel and statements of Isaac Arhin, the third prosecution witness.

After working on the documents he issued a report, which indicated that there were some similarities of the signatures on the vessel moving card and the statements made by Isaac Arhin.

The documents were therefore tendered and admitted in evidence.

During cross-examination by Mr Osei Wusu, counsel for Isaac, witness said he was sure his findings contained in the report were conclusive.

The case was adjourned to May 24.

Source: GNA