A 53-year-old cleaner on Friday sent the audience in an Accra Circuit Court laughing when he pleaded guilty after his name was mentioned to step into the dock.
Albert Quarcoopome instead of responding ‘’yes my lord,” yelled “Guilty.” As soon as the court clerk asked Quarcoopome whether he wanted to change his plea, he replied, “Ma change dadaada,” meaning “I have changed it long time ago”.
Quarcoopome and his accomplice Samuel Oko Tagoe were caught selling dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at the Osu Cemetery.
They were jointly charged with possession of narcotic drugs and they pleaded not guilty. However when the case was called today they pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri asked them why they wanted to change their pleas, they said: “My Lord it is good to tell the truth”. Quarcoopome told the judge that he had repented and he was about to be ordained by the United Church in Nsawam Prisons.
Quarcoopome: “My Lord if you like go and knock somebody down and bring your car for me to wash it, I will clean it well. Cleanliness is next to Godliness”.
The Trial Judge: “You see it has started, “Quarcoopome why do you smoke? Quarcoopome: “I smoke so that I can eat and work hard. In fact, the herb energizes me. I have been smoking it for the past five years”.
Trial Judge: Tagoe, for how long have you been smoking?
Tagoe: My Lord for the past two years. Please forgive me. I have learnt my lesson after going into Nsawam Medium Security Prison. The place is congested. I now read the Bible every day. In fact this morning I read Psalms 100.
Trial Judge: I want you to read the entire Bible at Nsawam Prison so that you come back reformed.
The judge then sentenced each of them to one-and-half- year jail term and a fine of GH?1,200.00 each.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police P.A Morkeh said on November 1, police officers who were on duty at Parliament House near the Osu Cemetery saw the convicts selling dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
When the buyers saw the police they took to their heels and the two were arrested.
The convicts admitted that they smoked and sold Indian hemp at the cemetery.
