“I sell cannabis, but deal leniently with me,” accused pleads

A father of four who pleaded guilty to possessing 2,005 grams of cannabis sativa on Monday prayed with an Accra Circuit Court to deal leniently with him.

Swirago Yakubu, who spoke in Dagbani, admitted that he had been selling narcotic drugs. He said the police officer who arrested him was aware of it and had been taking money from him.

According to Yakubu, before the incident, the police officer demanded money from him but he told him that business was not good so he could not give him the money.

“The arresting officer therefore told me that he would arrest me anytime he saw me, hence when he saw me he and two prison officers apprehended me.

“My Lord I will not do that again. I am a father of four and my wife has just given birth. Please deal leniently with me.”

The court, presided over by Mr Iddrisu Mahamadu commended Yakubu for being candid to the court saying he would convict him on his own plea but remanded him for sentencing on April 1.

The trial judge said he would like to see the exhibits for the purpose of destruction, adding that, he would also take into account the fact that he had been honest.

“I will be lenient with you, but don't deal in illegalities because of your children. If you do, it will catch up with you.”

According to the prosecution, on March 5, Lance Corporal Alhassan Gyimah of Dansoman Police station, who was driving a Police vehicle, was returning from a workshop when he saw the accused carrying a white polythene bag on his shoulder.

The prosecution said when Yakubu saw the Police vehicle he started running so the complainant became suspicious and gave him a hot chase.

It said Lance Corporal Gyimah said with the assistance of two prison officers, the accused was apprehended.

When the polythene bag was searched, quantities of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa were found.

Yakubu was therefore sent to the Dansoman Police station and the dried leaves were submitted to the Police Forensic Laboratory for analytical examination.

The Prosecution said the dried leaves proved for cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug, weighing 2,005 grams.