Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Source: GNA

Two jailed for smoking Indian hemp

An Accra circuit court on Monday sentenced two persons to three months imprisonment for smoking Indian hemp.

The two, Samuel Mensah, 19, a metal scrap dealer and Kojo Agyemang, 18, a street hawker, pleaded guilty to possession of narcotic drugs without authority.

In their explanation before the court presided over by Mr. Francis Obiri, Mensah and Agyeman said smoking Indian hemp helps them to work harder.

The trial judge, therefore, convicted them on their own plea and cautioned them to be of good behaviour on their return from jail.

The court further ordered for the destruction of the drugs in the presence of the court’s registrar, the Police and court officials.

Prosecuting, Mr. Patrick Morkeh, Deputy Superintendent of Police told the court that, the suspects were arrested on January 1, this year, when the ministries Police command went on patrol duties.

According to DSP Morkeh, Mensah and Agyeman were caught smoking the dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp at an enclosed area in a bar popularly known as Louis Bar at the Arts Centre beach.