Two suspected wee smokers granted GHS10,000 bail

Two suspected wee smokers, who allegedly forced three children to consume an alcoholic drink and smoke cigarette, have been granted bail in the sum of GHS5, 000 each by the Tarkwa circuit court. The children were between the ages of six to 10 years and the incident occurred at the Cyanide Sawdust Park, a suburb of Tarkwa.

The suspects, Shardrack Amoah, 24, plumber and Isaac Frank Arthur, 22, a student of Ideal College at Takoradi, were charged for exposing the victims to danger and causing harm to them.

They, however, pleaded not guilty and will re-appear before the court on March 21.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court, presided over by Mr Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complainants, Augustina Nkrumah and Robert Macson, are parents of the victims.

Inspector Amponsah said on March 6, at about 1130 hours, the victims and their two friends were playing football at Sawdust Park when the ball went to a shed where the suspects were sitting, drinking and smoking cigarette.

He said when the victims went for their ball, the accused persons gave them some of the alcoholic Don Simon Sangria to drink and cigarette to smoke before they handed over the ball to them.

According to the Prosecutor, one of the victims later reported the incident to his mother and when she questioned the others they confirmed what happened.

Inspector Amponsah said the complainants made a formal complaint to the police where they were issued with a medical form to send the victims to the hospital for examination.

Prosecution said a medical officer at the Tarkwa Government Hospital, Dr Osumani Abukari, after examining the victims, concluded that it was difficult to determine what happened.

He said on March 8, the accused persons were arrested and detained and after investigation, they were charged with the offense.

The judge, however, said for the police to ascertain the truth of the matter they needed to run a detailed medical examination on the victims adding that they should expand their investigation.

He added that if the accused persons were found guilty the court would punish them severely to serve as a deterrent to the upcoming youth.