Don't send me to Nsawam Prisons - Convict tells Tribunal

Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - A businessman on Friday stunned audience gathered at the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal when he prayed the court to send him to any prison in the country to serve his 10-year term except Nsawam Prison.

Daniel Opoku Amoateng, who pleaded guilty to attempted exportation and possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority and was convicted and sentenced accordingly, said his bothers had received three calls from unknown persons suggesting that if he were sent to Nsawam Prison his life would be in danger.

Mr Musah Ahmed who represented Amoateng in an application told the tribunal that the threats were real and true and prayed it to grant the application.

Quoting authorities to buttress his argument, he said under the law an accused could be allowed to plead with the court if his or she thinks that his or her life was in danger if sent to a particular prison.

Defence counsel also drew the attention of the tribunal of his client's plea saying he had not wasted the court's time by allowing it TO go into full trial and prayed that he should be dealt with leniently. The court granted the application and ordered that Amoateng should be sent to Ho Prisons.

Ms Victoria Odame-Darkwa, an Assistant State Attorney told the tribunal that on May 5, this year at about 2100 hours Amoateng arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to board a flight to Milan, Italy.

While going through departure formalities personnel of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) on duty at KIA picked up Amoateng as result of his strange movement and demeanour. Amoateng was escorted to the 37 Military Hospital where an ex-ray conducted on him indicated that he had some foreign materials in his stomach.

Prosecution said when Amoateng was searched his black pair of shoes contained two slabs of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine. During interrogation, Amoateng said one George Amoakohene who sold 60 pellets of the drugs to him also gave him the pair of shoes. Prosecution said Amoateng, however, failed to assist the Police to arrest Amoakohene.

An analytical examination conducted on the substance proved positive of cocaine weighing 1226.8 grammes.