The third defence witness, an informant to the police, whose name, from instructions from the judge, has been withheld for security reasons, yesterday identified Inspector Charles Adaba, the investigator in the cocaine trial of Kwabena "Tagor" Amaning and Alhaji Issah Abass, as a member of the team of police officers who suspiciously bungled the arrest of Asem Daker.

But, the trial judge expressed regret for not taking the testimony of the witness in camera, something the justice said he would have done if he knew the substance of the witness' submission before hand.

Alhaji Abbas has also informed the court that he worked as an informant for drug enforcement agents and used some of his 'boys", including yesterday's witness to help the police.

Justice Dotse expressed the anxiety that opening up such an informant to an open public trial runs the risk of discouraging other informants from rendering services to the state.

Defence lawyer Mohammed Attah requested police protection for the witness. The judge, however, with insider opinion from former BNI boss and defence counsel Ellis Owusu-Fordjour, felt it may further compromise the informant"s sense of security, but advised him to stay alert and seek immediate protection if he feels threatened.

The informant further told the court that Inspector Adaba was present when Justice Oppong in the company of one Alhaji sought his help at Abass’ office.

He said the police told him that by helping them to arrest Killer and Asem Daker alias the Limping Man, he would be helping the State and Abass as well, with the promise of a reward of GH¢4,000 (¢40 million).

The prosecution led by Gertrude Aikins, Deputy Public Prosecutor, however rejected the witness’ claims. She said the witness was lying to the court about the involvement of Inspector Adaba.

She quoted extensively from the records of the Regional CID Office. An entry by Inspector Justice Nana Oppong, who was since interdicted and has now been transferred to Asankragwa as a district crime officer, showed that indeed on 19 August 2006, Inspector Oppong detectives Sulley and Mohammed, as first stated by the informant/witness, acting on the tip off and in the company of the informant travelled to Ada with the hope of arresting the fugitive Sheriff, who is alleged to be the 'owner’ of the alleged 77 parcels of cocaine that was on board MV Benjamin.

She noted that Inspector Adaba could not have been involved in either the operation at Ada or the meeting at Abass’ office because he was not at the time involved in the case, which was at that time being handled by Justice Oppong. She said Adaba took over the case in October, 2006, which was after the two events.

But, the informant/witness insisted Adaba was part of the team, even describing the suit that the Inspector wore on that day, "wine colour."

She further indicated that Adaba has never worked at the Regional Police at Tudu before.

The witness however replied that he did not know anything about where Adaba’s office was because that was a police matter.

He explained that somewhere last year Abass called upon him to help the police in their investigations. He said he reluctantly agreed to do so after several persuasions. He said he was with one Gonu at the said meeting.

According to him the police promised to give them ¢40million if they helped them in their investigations.

He further told the court that they helped the police to arrest Killer’s wife and brother. He said he also tipped the police that Asem Daker was attending a funeral in Ada.

The informant said he, together with Gonu, Nana Justice Oppong Asante, Alhaji, Sulley, Inspector Adaba and other police personnel set off for Ada.

He said when they got to the funeral grounds they split into groups. Some stood at the Ada junction, others at a school near the funeral and the rest with him and Gonu to the funeral grounds. He recounted how the police went on to bungle the operation.

The witness told the court that he feels very insecure after helping the police. He said he has been receiving threats on his phone and therefore had to change his chip.

This got the judge to comment that the witness’ testimony should have been held in camera if he knew the substance of it beforehand. The judge expressed the fear that this public exposure of a police informant could discourage others from doing so.

The informant told the court that the police reneged on their promise to give them ¢40 million after helping them. But Gertrude Aikins thinks otherwise. She said the police never promised the witness any money.

The witness said he knows who the owner of the MV Benjamin vessel is but does not know his name.

On the issue of the police report, Ellis Fordjour, lead Counsel for Tagor asked the witness if he is a policeman, to which he replied in the negative.

When asked whether Justice Oppong ever told him what he has written in his report concerning the operation, he again replied in the negative.

Also in court yesterday was Chief Superintendent Dogbeda, the Tema Regional Police Commander, who was summoned to explain the circumstances that led to the arrest of Konu/Gonu.

He told the court that the person they have in custody (name withheld) was arrested in connection with the murder of Kwartey Quartey at Tema.

Mohammed Attah then informed the court that Abass might have made a mistake when pronouncing the name but the person in police custody is the same person he was referring to. The Commander was discharged by the court after explaining things satisfactorily to the court.

The former Deputy Director in charge of operations at the Narcotic Controls Board, Ben Ndego, who, like the no-show ACP Kofi Boakye, many believed to be the "star witness" in the cocaine trial of Kwabena "Tagor" Amaning and Alhaji Issah Abass, again failed to turn up.

Ndego’s failure to appear, as subpoenaed, before the court on Tuesday led to the summoning of the current Executive Secretary of NACOB, Ben Botchway, to court to explain if Ndego has been served with the subpoena as it was served through NACOB.

The court registrar yesterday showed photographs from NACOB indicating that NACOB officials left the subpoena in a gap in the gate of Ndego’s residence.

In a letter addressed to the court, NACOB indicated that on August 13, two officers were sent to Ben Ndego’s residence at Kasoa to serve him with the subpoena but he was not at home.

The letter said the officers met a young man who refused to take the subpoena, therefore, they pasted it on the gate of the house.

Mohammed Attah, whose witness is Ben Ndego, pleaded with the court to order copies of the subpoena and NACOB’s correspondence to the court pasted at the house of Ben Ndego, the office of NACOB, the Fast Track High Court, and also published in the Daily Graphic.

He further pleaded that the time on the subpoena should be abridged to 7 days to expedite trial. The application was granted by the court.

The case has been adjourned to August 22.