Liberian jailed for narcotic

A LIBERIAN Mechanic who was arrested last year during a swoop at Budumburam for having in his possession two parcels and eight wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, has been convicted by an Accra Circuit court.

The court, presided over by Francis Obiri, sentenced George Saymor to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour after he admitted committing the offence.

Saymor when he first appeared before the court, pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority; but yesterday changed his plea after the prosecutor informed the court that the said dried leaves, according to a report from the Ghana Standards Board, was cannabis sativa popularly known as wee.

The convict then begged the judge to deal leniently with him. The judge upheld his plea and gave him the minimum sentence of 10 years.

The prosecutor, DSP Mary Agbozo disclosed that on September 7, 2012, personnel of the Narcotics Control Board stormed a narcotic drug peddling spot at the Budumburam refugee camp where they met some young men. However, the men, upon seeing the police, took to their heels but Saymor was arrested.

According to the prosecutor, when the convict was searched, the police found eight wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and a bunch of keys.

He further led the police to his room where two parcels of similar leaves were found. He was subsequently charged with the offence.