TAGOR OPENS DEFENCE IN COKE CASE

A key suspect in one of the most sensational cocaine trials in the country, Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, yesterday disclosed that his alleged accomplice, Alhaji Issa Abass, had told him that the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) had suspected ACP Kofi Boakye of dealing in narcotics and had, therefore, put surveillance on him.
He said as a result, a NACOB official he only named as Ben tasked them to record the conversation that took place in ACP Boakye’s house.
Tagor made the disclosure at the Fast Track High Court during his evidence-in-chief in the case in which he and Alhaji Abass are standing trial for offences related to narcotics.
Tagor is facing four counts of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs, buying of narcotic drugs and supplying narcotic drugs, while Alhaji Abass faces two counts of conspiracy and supply of narcotic drugs.
They have pleaded not guilty to all the counts and have been refused bail by the court.
Initially, Kwabena Acheampong, Tagor, Alhaji Abass, Victor Kisseh, alias Yaw Billah, and Alhaji Moro Mohammed were arraigned at the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs.
Some of them were said to have engaged in a conversation relating to the missing cocaine on board the MV Benjamin at the residence of ACP Boakye, the subject of which led to the setting up of the Justice Georgina Wood Committee.
However, on Wednesday, November 22, 2006, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi (not willing to prosecute), resulting in the discharge of the accused persons. But fresh charges were preferred against Tagor and Abass, leading to their appearance at the Fast Track High Court.
Led in evidence by Nana Barima Asante Bediatuo, one of his lawyers, Tagor said Alhaji Abass even showed him a tape recorder which he was going to use to record a conversation which was to be held in ACP Boakye’s’ house.
“Alhaji Abass showed me the tape recorder and asked me never to be scared because the NACOB people were behind it and that we should make ACP Boakye talk,” he said, and added that Abass said in order to bait ACP Boakye to talk, he (Tagor) should follow his (Abass’s) line of speech in order to support him.
That, he explained, was why they spoke the way they did so that they could get ACP Boakye to talk.
Giving the background to how the meeting took place, Tagor, who said he got that name in school because he bore semblance to another student, said he was a businessman and dealt in plant hire, among other things.
He said the name of his business entity was Cross Trade Investment and he tendered the certificates of Incorporation and to Commence Business, as well as its regulations.
He said he was known as Kwabena Amaning Kwarten but when he was arrested the Kwarten was omitted.
According to him, in May 2006, Kwabena Acheampong informed him that the police were after him and, therefore, he should report to ACP Boakye.
However, he said Acheampong advised him not to turn up because if he went they would arrest him. Instead, Acheampong came to pick him the next morning to ACP Boakye’s office at the Police Headquarters.
Tagor said when they got to ACP Boakye’s office, Alhaji Abass was already coming out from the office.
He said ACP Boakye’s bodyguards refused Acheampong entry into his office so he (Tagor) alone went inside to see the police officer who, on seeing him, violently instructed him to sit down.
“Since you have been in the country, you have not come to pay homage because all the young guys who return from abroad come to do that,” Tagor quoted ACP Boakye as having told him.
He said ACP Boakye then held his shoulder but he tried to brush him aside. Suddenly, a lady entered the room, forcing a smile from ACP Boakye, as if nothing had happened.
As soon as the lady left, he said, ACP Boakye refocused attention on him and demanded to know why he (Tagor) was spreading rumours in town that he (ACP Boakye) had visited the MV Benjamin to steal cocaine.
“You will see, you will see,” he said ACP Boakye threatened him, and indicated that as a law enforcement officer, he would ‘show’ him.
According to Tagor, while that was happening, a gentleman of Nigerian origin came into the office and ACP Boakye recoiled and managed a smile.
After the gentleman had left, he said ACP Boakye then told him that he (Tagor) and Alhaji Abass dealt in cocaine with some Colombians, as a result of which he (Tagor) had bought a car for his driver, which he denied.
He said ACP Boakye later drove him out of his office, amidst threats that he would see what would happen to him. When he came out, Acheampong asked why he looked so serious, which he offered an explanation.
Tagor said after he had narrated the story to Acheampong, he (Acheampong) informed him that Alhaji Abass had called to ask him to call back and when he obliged, they arranged to meet later on the Spintex Road in Accra where Tagor briefed Alhaji Abass about his meeting with ACP Boakye.
He said Alhaji Abass told him that he should not worry because ACP Boakye had a questionable character.
Tagor said he received a call from Ahator, one of ACP Boakye’s bodyguards, that his boss wanted to meet him at the Legon On the Run, explaining that because he was scared, he informed Alhaji Abass, who said he should not be scared.
When he turned up at the place, he said ACP Boakye never showed up. Rather, it was Ahator who came to ask him “to be one with the commander because the commander can protect you”.
He said since he did not understand what the policeman said, he again called Alhaji Abass and told him before he left for Kumasi.
Tagor said while in Kumasi, he received a phone call from Alhaji Moro, whom he had heard about when he was young, and while sitting in Alhaji Moro’s car, the Alhaji called ACP Boakye and then put the phone on loud speaker so that he could hear their conversation.
“When I get Tagor, what should I do?” Tagor said the Alhaji asked ACP Boakye, who responded that he should bring him to Accra.
Tagor said Alhaji Moro, after his conversation with ACP Boakye, asked what was wrong. When they arrived in Accra, Tagor called Alhaji Abass and on meeting him, Abass told Tagor what the NACOB officials had told him (Alhaji Abass).
When Mr Ellis Owusu-Fordjour, Tagor’s lead counsel, took over, Tagor said the meeting was arranged by ACP Boakye and that he (Tagor) had been aware that Alhaji Abass was recording it.
He denied conspiring with Alhaji Abass to look for the missing cocaine in order to enjoy the benefits because ACP Boakye asked them to put their ears on the ground and get in touch with him should they find the cocaine.
During cross-examination by Ms Gertrude Aikins, the acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Tagor said he started his secondary education at Pope John’s in Koforidua, before he left for St Augustine’s in Cape Coast and then Labone Secondary for his A’ Levels, which he could not complete before he left the country for the USA.
He agreed with Ms Aikins that he was called Ernest Kwabena Osei when he was in school but he later changed his name to Kwabena Amaning Kwarten and explained that he lost his father at a very tender age and used a name given to him by his mother and his stepfather.
Tagor said it was his aunt at Kaneshie who told him the real story about his father, disagreeing with the assertion that even at that tender age in school he was used to changing his name.
He denied that his evidence in court was a fabrication because he had been in custody with Alhaji Abass and they might have discussed what to tell the court.
He further denied owning other property apart from his one house at East Legon and said he did not disclose what he had told the court at the Georgina Wood Committee because he knew NACOB would come to their rescue.