Asamankese, Feb. 06, GNA - The Asamankese Circuit Court on Friday sentenced two farmers to five years in prison each, in hard labour, for causing harm and possession Indian hemp without lawful authority. Kwaku Awuah, 26 and Kwabena Prosper, pleaded not guilty. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Xystus Okorey told the court that on December 30, 2008 at about 0630 hours, the complainant, Kwaku Jacob and a witness in the case were walking on a bush path that passed through the farm of Awuah and Prosper when they were stopped by the convicts. He said the convicts questioned the complainant and the witness why they were using the path since they refused to assist them to weed the path. The prosecutor said the question generated an argument between the complainant and the convicts and in the process, Prosper, who was smoking a substance suspected to be Indian hemp puffed the smoke into the face of the complainant.

Prosper's conduct did not go down well with the complainant and cautioned him. That annoyed Prosper, who pushed the complainant resulting in a fight and in the process, he picked a stone and hit Kwaku Jacob on the left cheek and he bled profusely. The prosecutor said Awuah then joined the fight and severely slashed the complainant with a cutlass. The witness on seeing that the situation was becoming serious ran to the house and mobilized his brothers and the convicts were arrested. They searched the house of the convicts and found a quantity of dried seeds suspected to be that of Indian hemp. The convicts were sent to the Police station together with the dried seeds and the cutlass used by Awuah in slashing the complainant. A report was made to the Police and the complainant was issued with a medical form to attend hospital. The prosecutor said the dried seeds sent to the Forensic Laboratory proved positive to be that of Indian hemp. Awuah and Prosper were therefore charged with the two counts and arraigned before the court. 06 Feb. 10