Sunyani, Nov. 6, GNA - Mohammed Seidu Alhassan, alias Maha, Brong Ahafo Regional Youth Organizer of National Democratic Congress (NDC), was on Thursday arraigned before court in Sunyani for the second time within the week for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs. His plea was not taken and he was granted 30 million cedis bail by the Sunyani Magistrate court with two sureties to reappear on November 20.

Last Monday, the suspect was arraigned before a Sunyani circuit court, presided by Mr Kofi Debrah, on the same charge but was discharged after counsel argued that he (accused) was not alerted before a search was conducted in his room, as such it was possible that he was implicated in the matter.

But Mr Alexander Mensah, Regional Crime Officer, explained to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that the due process of the law was not adhered to before the accused was arraigned before the circuit court, more so when the police was still investigating the narcotic case, which should be heard by a regional tribunal.

Prosecuting Police Sergeant Gilbert Adayuga told the magistrate court, presided by Mr Charles Adjei Wilson, that the complainants are security men stationed in Sunyani.

He said following an intelligence report that the accused was dealing in narcotic drugs, a search warrant was issued to search his house at Zongo in Sunyani.

During the search at about 1830 hours on October 31 in the presence of the father of the accused and one Anthony Musah, an independent witness, the police team found a wrapper of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp in the hall.

Sgt Adayuga said the attention of the accused was drawn to the item but he collected the wrapper from the police and attempted to destroy it but it was retrieved from him.

The prosecutor said the accused also denied knowledge about a king-size smoking reel and a soft paper suspected to be used in wrapping the leaves found in his sofa.