An Accra Circuit Court on Monday sentenced an unemployed man, Awudu Baba, to five years in jail for possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
The court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh in sentencing the convict, said it took into consideration the plea for mitigation, the two months stay in police custody and his plea of guilty.
“I also took into consideration the quantity of the substance in his possession,” the judge added.
Superintendent of Police, Patience Mario, earlier told the court that the complainant was a senior police officer.
He said on March 18, the complainant and some of his neighbours met to discuss the current security situation in their neighbourhood due to persistent complaints about theft of properties in the area.
He said in the process, they had a tip-off that the convict had in his possession, dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, which he has been selling in the neighbourhood.
He said the complainant and the witnesses proceeded to the hideout of the convict at Opah and arrested Baba with a bowl containing dried leaves.
“Convict was handed over to the Police together with the exhibits,” he added.
The Prosecution said at the Police station, the convict was searched and four pairs of scissors, a lighter, jackknife, brown paper, a pair of pliers, two mobile phones and cash of GH¢ 52.00 were found in a sack.
Awudu admitted the offence in his caution statement and stated that he bought the narcotic drug from various people at Avenor to be sold at Opah Alafia.
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Source: GNA