Yesterday, Issah Abass stunned audience of the Fast Track High Court when he told the court how the police, based on information from "his boys", came so close to arresting Asem Darkeh at a funeral at Ada, but for some strange reason allowed him to limp to his Land Cruiser and drove off never to be spotted again. He also told the court that he delivered the tape at the office of Col. Akuoko, who was head of NACOB, in the presence of Ben Ndego and others, including a detective who had earlier testified. The fugitive Asem Darkeh, also known as Sheriff the Cripple, is seen as one of the main men behind the importation of the alleged two tonnes made up of 77 parcels of cocaine on board the MV Benjamin into the country. He is also suspected of conniving with some police officers to empty the vessel, which was under surveillance, of 76 of the 30kg parcels, leaving one for officers to discover. Abass informed the court that investigators on the case were aware that he secretly taped the controversial conversation at ACP Kofi Boakye's house, in May 2006, from which the prosecution has laid various cocaine charges against the two accused persons, including Kwabena "Tagor" Amaning. He said it was while in custody that he assisted the police with leads for the arrest of Killer, the Korean, and Sheriff. He said he was taken to his office in Tema, while in custody, and even had to ask his lawyer, Buabeng for GH¢200 (¢2 million) to "motivate" his boys before they would assist the police on his behalf in locating the MV Benjamin suspects. He said the police gave two of his boys mobile phones and promised them GH¢4,000 (¢40 million) if they provide any leads. He said the police, when they got to Ada in the company of his boys, saw Asem Darkeh sitting at the funeral grounds but did not apprehend him. Asked why, the police said they had their own way of doing things and therefore they should be left alone to do their job. He told the court that the police looked on unconcerned till the suspect became suspicious and jumped into his Toyota Land cruiser and sped off. He said the police later attempted chasing the suspect in their Toyota four wheel drive, but abandoned the chase some few minutes later with the excuse that their vehicle's engine was not as strong as that of the suspect's. Abass said he became privy to this information when his boys returned to Accra furious at the police for letting the suspect slip away. He said after the police had messed up the attempted arrest of Asem Darkeh, his boys were asked to report to the regional police headquarters, where the phones previously given to them to relay information were collected from them, and also warned to keep their mouths shut. He said the police did not fulfill their promise of ¢40 million reward to each of his boys for helping the police in their investigation. Abass recounted to the court his frustration and anger at the way he has been treated for helping mother Ghana. Touching on his secret recording, he told the court that when he dropped the tape at NACOB, he told Ben Ndego, then deputy, that he needed a copy of the transcript, and eventually received one. He described the transcript he received as a typed copy in a yellow envelope, which he later tendered as evidence. The prosecution objected to the tendering of the transcript as evidence with the reason that they needed time to study it. This was however overruled by the judge, who indicated that the defence had laid a foundation to tender the document as evidence. During cross examination, Abass denied that he and Tagor had been in the drug business since they met. He further denied training Tagor in the cocaine business. The case returns to court today for continuation of cross examination. Source: The Statesman