Suspected Indian hemp peddler in court

Asamankese (E/R), Oct. 25, GNA - A farmer, Henry Afari has appeared before the Asamankese Circuit Court charged with possessing 33 wrappers of Indian hemp, weighing 66 grammes.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in prison custody until November 11.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Osei Owusu, said a senior Police Officer at the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Accra, who was on leave at his hometown, Kyekyewere, near Suhum, caused the arrest of Afari.

Chief Inspector Owusu explained that on June 13, the officer had information that Afari peddles Indian hemp in the town and at about 1400 hours on the same day, while strolling in town, the officer saw a young man, who appeared drunk emerging from the house of Afari. He said the officer confronted the drunken young man as to what he went into the house for and he replied that he went there to smoke. The officer then sought the assistance of another person and together with the young man entered the house of the accused. The prosecutor said, when Afari saw them, he took to his heels but he was chased and arrested after a fierce struggle.

Afari was taken to his room for a search, which led to the discovery of three polythene bags and in one of them were 33 white wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

Inspector Owusu said when confronted, Afari claimed ownership of the wrappers, which he admitted were Indian hemp he peddles and was handed over to the Police together with the 33 wrappers, which was later confirmed by the Police Forensic Laboratory in Accra, which gave the weight of the hemp as 66 grammes.