A medical officer with the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Dr Nana Okae Brako, yesterday affirmed that Thomas Osei, the man who ran his car into the President's car last year, tested positive for cocaine because traces of the substance were found in his urine sample.
According to him, Osei was tested for the abuse of 11 substances but the Medlab Laboratories, which conducted the examination, had the facility to test for nine of the substances, including cocaine, the quantity of which could not be determined.
He said when he diagnosed Osei, he did not think that Osei would test positive for cocaine or end up being prosecuted and that he did his job as a medical officer.
Dr Brako said Osei was not handed to him for any drug test but that on examining him, he realised the need to do a test for substance abuse because of the manifestation of tremors in Osei's demeanour.
Testifying under cross-examination by Mr Kwame Boafo Akuffo, counsel for Osei, Dr Brako said when Osei was handed over to him, he (Osei) did not pose any danger to people.
Osei was first arraigned before the Motor •Court on November 16, 2007 and remanded.
He was discharged by the court on Thursday, December 20, 2007 after the prosecution had filed a nolle prosequi (unwilling to prosecute) but he was re-arrested when he stepped out of the court and put before the Fast Track High Court on six counts.
Osei now faces seven counts of use of narcotic drugs, dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to give way to a Presidential convoy and failing to effect change of ownership of vehicle, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Around 11.30 a.m. on November 14, 2007, Osei, who was driving a Mercedes Benz SE 500 saloon car in the inner lane along the Liberation Link from the direction of Aviance towards the 37 Military Hospital, drove into the rear side of the President's vehicle, in spite of the fact that other motorists had been stopped to allow the President's convoy to pass.
The driver of the President's car and the driver of a VW saloon car were treated and discharged, while Osei was admitted for treatment.
The President escaped unhurt.
Dr Brako said after Osei had been treated at the 37 Military Hospital, he was discharged because he was fit but he (Dr Brako) requested to do a test to confirm his suspicion because of Osei's manifestation of withdrawal syndrome.
He explained that tremors could be caused by problems relating to the central nervous system, anxiety and other manifestations and that a man who had been involved in an accident was likely to suffer those manifestations.
Asked why he did not take Osei to the premises of Medlab to take his urine sample, the witness replied that that was not possible because Osei's condition at the time was not the best, while he was also taken home.
Dr Brako said when he submitted the urine sample to Medlab, he labelled it, although Osei did not acknowledge in writing that it was his urine sample.
He agreed with counsel that if care was not taken, a sample could be adulterated, but disagreed that it would be difficult to connect the sample with its result if it was improperly labelled.
He said the choice of Medlab Laboratories over the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) was influenced by the proximity of the place and stated that in terms of• experience, he graded both facilities equally.
Source: MJFM
