Nayele Ametefe, the woman arrested in for possession of 12.5 kilograms of cocaine in the United Kingdom is due to appear before a judge later on Thursday via video link.
Citi News’ Philip Kofi Ashon who is the UK, reported that the suspect will appear before the court at a preliminary hearing at 14:00 GMT via video link after she was remanded in custody.
[contextly_sidebar id=”30TLmThoQmdU8Y52aiGsYXAFLgPJQawn”]”The case number is T20141080 and is slated for a preliminary hearing at Isleworth Crown Court will before His Honour Judge Edmunds QC, in court number 5 at 2pm. Miss Ametefeh, who is on remand at the Her Majesty’s Prison Bronzefied, will not be produced in person but will be available via video link from the prison.”
Ruby Appiah, alias Nayele Ametefeh was arrested on November 10 at the Heathrow Airport after attempting to enter the UK with the cocaine in her hand luggage.
She was subsequently charged with Class A drug trafficking and was arraigned before the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday November 11 before she was remanded at the Her Majesty’s Prison Bronzefied.
If convicted, Ruby Appiah could face at least 15 years in prison as a result of the quantity of drugs that was being trafficked.
However a guilt plea at the earliest opportunity could reduce the jail term to about 10 years.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Hannah Tetteh, stated that the suspect had revealed, when questioned by Ghanaian consular officers in the UK, that she had been aided by a Ghanaian businessman to get through the Kotoka International Airport onto the plane untroubled.
She also stated that Ruby Appiah thought she was carrying gold in her hand luggage rather than the cocaine she was eventually busted with.
Meanwhile, 12 people have, so far been arrested in Ghana for their alleged involvement in the case .
They include the two women; Nana Akua Amponsah and Sadalia Sandra Nuhu who reportedly traveled with Nayele but absconded after the latter was nabbed by the Police in the UK.
Three public officials have been charged with abetment of crime; exportation of narcotic drugs, contrary to sections 56 (c) and 1 (1) of the Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement and Sanctions) Act, 1990 (PNDC law 236).
They are a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abiel Ashitey Armah, Theophilus Kissi of the Research Department attached to the VVIP Lounge at the Kotoka International Airport and Abubakar Ahmed, a civil servant.
They have been remanded in prison custody and are to reappear in court on December 11.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana