Asamankese, March 12, GNA - Fred Obeng, a 30-year-old farmer, was on Friday arraigned before the Asamankese Circuit Court for possessing a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp without authority. His plea was not taken and he was remanded in prison custody until March 24.

Presenting the facts of the case, Police Detective Chief Inspector X. C. Okorey, told the court that on March 4 this year, upon information received, the Suhum Police went to an oil palm plantation at the outskirts of Asuboi. There they arrested Obeng and two boys aged 14 and 15 together with a quantity of dried leaves in a black polythene bag suspected to be Indian hemp and took them to the police station. The prosecutor said when searched, an amount of GHC104 was found in Obeng's pocket.

In their caution statement, the two boys told the police that they were on the farm to assist Obeng to harvest his palm fruits. That explanation was confirmed by the accused and the two juveniles were released. The exhibits, the prosecutor said, had been forwarded to the Forensic laboratory in Accra for testing.