No bail for fante kenkey wee dealers

An Accra circuit court yesterday dismissed an application for bail filed by lawyers of the two persons standing trial over narcotic-related charges.

The two, Kwaku Boateng, 47, a travel and tour agent and Yaw Opoku, 62, driver, are before the court for allegedly attempting to export 100 compressed parcels of Indian hemp (wee) concealed in Fante kenkey, to the United Kingdom (UK).

Anthony Lammoh, counsel for the accused persons, applying for the bail, said Opoku, who is in police custody, is suffering from chicken pox.

He said the court ought to grant the bail on humanitarian grounds because it was most likely the accused could infect the other inmates as well as the investigator in the case.

Mr. Lammoh indicated that the charges preferred against the accused person were not ones he would have requested for bail, insisting that the bail had become necessary in view of the condition of the 62-year-old man.

He urged the trial judge, Aboagye Tandoh, to exercise his discretion in favour of the accused.

Chief Supt. Duuti Tuaruka, the prosecutor, said the prosecution was leaving the decision to grant the bail or not to the court.

In a ruling, Mr. Tandoh said he was not inclined to grant the bail considering the gravity of the charges against Opoku.

He said the Police Hospital or any hospital could still treat the accused.

Meanwhile, the dry leaves suspected to be wee, have been forwarded for forensic examination.

Sitting has been adjourned until November 24, 2015.

The prosecution led by C/Supt. Tuaruka, said that the accused persons on October 19, 2015 at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, conspired and possessed the narcotic drug without lawful authority and attempted to export it to the UK.

Kwaku and Yaw have also been charged for attempted exportation of the narcotic drug without lawful authority.

The two have denied the charges.