Conclusions of cocaine probe unreasonable - Annan

• January 11, 2012 unpublished • Story: Albert K. Salia • A LEGAL practitioner, Mr David Annan has expressed disappointment with the conclusions of the two reports issued by the Chief Justice’s Committee of Inquiry and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) into the cocaine-turned-soda carbonate saga. • He explained that the conclusions as contained in the two reports were unreasonable and should be entertained. • Reacting to the two reports in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Annan expressed surprise that the Chief Justice’s committee failed to fault any of the court officials in spite of the fact that it identified a number of errors in the way the issue was handled at the court. • He explained that it was the staff of the court who was being blamed and also the premises cited for the swapping of the cocaine. • He said the substance had been admitted and was in the custody of the court before the objection was raised. • Mr Annan said the defence counsel could have applied for re-testing before the court took custody of the substance. • He said it was also surprising that a conclusion could be reached because of the issue of smell. • “It is not my smell that cocaine is identified unless they want to say that only cocaine has that unique smell. Unless is it scientifically and forensically tested, one cannot come to such a conclusion”, he stated. • “In any case, there were two reports. While the police report said it was cocaine, the Ghana Standards Board report said it was something else. Why did the judge choose the GSB report over the other”, he queried. • On the BNI report, Mr Annan condemned the investigative body for rushing with an interim report when it knows that the final report could prove otherwise. • According to Mr Annan, the lawyer for DSP Mawuenyega must go to court to immediately quash the BNI report on grounds of unreasonableness. • He wondered if the BNI questioned the court officials including the judge and wondered how the judge could not have been faulted for the errors. • He said it was not unusual for police personnel to get lawyers for accused persons and wondered how that could mean facilitation. • Mr Annan said both the BNI and the Committee of Inquiry failed to indicate where the swapping was done and the perpetrators. • He said holding the head of the Police Narcotics Unit responsible because he is the head does not hold. • The BNI and the Committee of Inquiry instituted by the Chief Justice to investigate the cocaine-turn-washing soda on Tuesday made public their reports of investigation. • While the BNI recommended that the Deputy Head of the Commercial Crimes Unit, DSP Gifty Mawuenyega Tehoda and the Head of the Police Narcotics Unit, DSP Kofi Adzei-Tuadzra should be held responsible for their respective roles in the transformation of the cocaine exhibit into soda carbonate, the Chief Justice’s Committee said the cocaine was not swapped on the premises of the court. • The Ghana Police Service is yet to officially respond to the two reports.