Court defers sentencing of trader

An Accra Circuit Court on Wednesday deferred the sentencing of one Robert Obeng, a trader who was said to have conspired with two others and used narcotic drugs, to enable the prosecution to ascertain whether the drug is cocaine.

Obeng was charged with conspiracy to commit crime and use of narcotic drugs and pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy but guilty with explanation to the charge of using narcotic drugs.

He was said to have conspired with one Wisdom Ajidem and Richard Agbeshie who both pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded by the court. Obeng told the court that his alleged accomplices were innocent of the incident and that they had no idea about the drugs.

He said the two were sent by someone to give him provisions and fruits at the Pantang Hospital not knowing that the drug was hidden in the items. Obeng pleaded with the court to have mercy on them and send him to a rehabilitation centre since that would help him quit using the drugs and to acquit and discharge his accomplices.

The court therefore convicted Obeng on his own plea of guilty on the charge of using narcotic drugs and they are to reappear on August 6. Police Inspector Kwabena Adu told the court that the complainants are staff of the Pantang Hospital and the accused persons are traders living at Adenta.

He said on July 17 Obeng, who is a drug addict, went to the Pantang Hospital for rehabilitation and in the process of admitting him Wisdom and Richard entered the ward. He said the Hospital staff saw Wisdom passing on something wrapped in small black polythene to Obeng.

The prosecution said the staff searched all the three accused persons and collected polythene bag that contained 10 tiny wraps of whitish substance suspected to be cocaine.

Further search on Obeng revealed 76 tiny wraps of the same whitish substance suspected to be cocaine in his underpants. Also found on him were packets containing 18 sticks of cigarette containing 18 sticks, a smoking pipe, an empty cigarette box and a lighter.

He said Wisdom and Richard were also found with a lighter. They were all arrested and sent to the Adenta police station for investigation.