A Tarkwa circuit court has remanded Kofi Adu, a 26-year-old farm laborer at Nkrankrom near Asankrangwa for possessing a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and will re-appear before the court on August 9.

Prosecuting, Police Detective Chief Inspector, Oscar Amponsah, told the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo that on July 22, this year, around 0800 hours, the complainant, who is a unit committee secretary at Nkrankrom went to a nearby bush to cut some wood for his building and in the process saw the accused smoking some dried leaves.

He said the complainant became alarmed returned to the house and informed some unit committee members and they went to the bush and met the accused still smoking.

The team immediately conducted a search on the accused and a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp was found in a black polythene bag in his pocket.

Detective Amponsah said he was sent to the Asankrangwa police station with the stuff, where a formal complained was lodged and he was detained.

The prosecutor said the accused in his caution statement claimed ownership of the stuff, but failed to reveal to the police, who sold it to him.

He said efforts are being made to send the exhibit to the police crime laboratory in Accra for examination.**