Asamankese (E/R), Oct. 16, GNA - Yaw Atiga, farmer, who claimed the smoking of Indian hemp gave him a lot of strength to work hard, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment in hard labour by a circuit court at Asamankese.
He pleaded guilty.
Prosecuting, Detective Police Inspector Osei Owusu told the court presided over by Mr. S.S Appiah that Atiga assaulted one Madam Sakyibea on July 12, this year and a report was made to the police.
On July 20, two policemen pursued Atiga to Agbemehia village where he was arrested but while being escorted to the police station, Atiga fiercely resisted arrest and in the process he managed to pull out a wrapper from his pocket, which he threw away.
The police suspected something fishy and therefore picked the wrapper and when it was examined, it was found to contain a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
When questioned, Atiga confessed that the leaves were indeed Indian hemp, which he smoked to enable him to work efficiently.
The prosecutor said the suspected leaves were sent to the police crime laboratory for examination and the result indicated that the exhibit was Indian hemp weighing three grammes.
The judge observed that smoking of the stuff made the accused to exhibit violent conduct such as the unlawful assault on the woman, resisting arrest and other anti-social behaviours.