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Kufuor Crasher On Cocaine - Doc |
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A Medical doctor at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Nana Okine Brako has confirmed that there were traces of cocaine in the urine sample of Thomas Osei, the man who rammed his car into that of the President last year. |
Nana Brako, who has been in charge of the BNI clinic for the past eight years, was the doctor who conducted the test on the accused.
He was testifying as the ninth prosecution witness in the matter.
According to him, after he had personally examined the accused upon the request of the Director of BNI, he realized he looked nervous and was talking to himself, so he applied for a test to be done.
A letter, he said, was therefore given to him by the BNI to Med-Lab for a test to be conducted on the urine sample of the accused, and it proved that there was cocaine in it.
The witness, in his evidence-in-chief led by Mr. Agyemang Doudu, told a Fast Track High Court presided over by Justice E. K. Ayebi that on November 14, 2007, he was called by the Director of BNI to assist in the case.
He stated that when he got there, he noticed a cut on the eyebrow of the accused, adding that accused also smelled of alcohol. He noted that after he had examined Thomas Osei, he sent him to the 37 Military Hospital where he (Nana Brako) personally handed him over to one Dr. Gyan.
Thomas was given some drips and discharged after treatment. Witness went on to say that he and some colleagues later took Thomas to his house where a search was conducted.
Mr. Kwame Akuffo, counsel for the accused, under cross examination, pointed out to witness that the cut on the eyebrow of the accused was not as a result of the accident but rather beatings he received from a presidential security guard who in due time would be subpoenaed. But the witness said he was not aware of that.
Counsel further asked witness to state under whose authority he took the samples of blood and urine of the accused, but witness answered that he did that as part of his official duty.
Witness indicated that he did not take the temperature of the accused before taking the urine sample, and counsel suggested to him that it is only the temperature of the accused that can help determine whether there was cocaine in the urine or not. But again, the doctor denied this assertion.
The witness explained that the test was done to ascertain whether Osei was actually nervous that was why he caused that accident or he had taken some drug, adding that the test could not quantify the amount of cocaine but only prove its presence.
Mr. Akuffo asked Dr. Brako whether he was aware that some sellers put cocaine in drinks and sell to unsuspecting people, but witness answered that he only knew of “wee” and not cocaine.
Counsel further asked whether witness was aware that if someone takes in cocaine, a test on his urine only could not prove the existence of the substance in the person’s system, but again, the doctor replied he was not aware.
Thomas Osei, who is still on remand, is facing seven counts of dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to give way to a presidential convoy, failing to effect change of ownership of vehicle and use of cocaine, a narcotic drug, at the superior court. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The case has been adjourned to February 29, 2008 for further cross-examination.
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