Juaso (Ash), Feb 6, GNA - The Juaso circuit court last Monday sentenced a 67-year-old woman to 12 years imprisonment in hard labour for possessing and selling Indian hemp.

Akosua Asi pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the surety when the suspect jumped bail in September 2004.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) A.S. Haruna told the court that on September 15, 2004 the Agogo police had a tip-off that the convict was selling leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at Juansa. He said when the police searched her the kitchen they found four black polythene bags containing the dried leaves under earthenware.