Amoateng In More Trouble?

The embattled member of parliament(MP) for Nkoranza North, Hon Eric Amoateng, is expected to appear in a New York District Court, Brooklyn, today, with fresh charges being brought against him on his alleged involvement in smuggling narcotic drugs to the United States, with his friend, Nii Okai Adjei.

The prosecutor is expected to bring fresh charges against Hon Amoateng, following the guilty plea by his alleged accomplice, Nii Okai Adjei, to the charge of conspiracy to transport and distribute heroin to the United States, contrary of Federal Law.

Nii Okai Adjei, according to the prosecutor, had pleaded guilty to the charge, and was co-operating with the prosecution.

One of the lawyers of Mr Amoateng, Mr Dennis Adjei-Brenya, told Daily Guide that, this development would bring about the withdrawal of the conspiracy charge and replace it with a likely expanded charges described as, “superseding indictment.”

On Friday, March 17, 2006, the prosecutor dropped the bombshell before Judge David Tragger that, Nii Okai had confessed to the crime, and was co-operating with them, leaving the Nkoranza North MP to prove his innocence. Until the sudden change of events, the accused persons had pleaded not guilty, and had engaged the services of private lawyers to argue their cases for them.

Nii Okai Adjei, was not in the court on that date, with Judge Tragger asking for his whereabouts. Mr Adjei-Brenya indicated their readiness to mount a strong defence, to free the embattle MP, who has been incarcerated since his arrest with Nii Okai Adjei, on Saturday, November 12, 2006, at Staten Island, New York, for allegedly smuggling 138 pound narcotic drugs, concealed in crates of pottery, with a street valued of $6million. The crates were consigned to Nii Okai Adjei. After Amoateng's appearance in court, today, the court will meet again, on April 17, 2006, to select, a jury for the case, with the hearing of the main trial, fixed for April 26, 2006.