Unemployed jailed 12 years for possessing narcotic drug

A 20-year-old unemployed, who had in his possessing 83 wrappers of cannabis at Konongo, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in hard labour by the Juaso circuit court presided over by Mr Jacob Boon.

Osei Assibey pleaded not guilty to the one count of possessing narcotic drug without authority, and was found guilty after six months of trial.

The facts of the case presented by Chief Inspector Stephen Opare are that, on October 5, 2007, security men on patrol at Konongo Zongo on reaching a spot around the cemetery saw a shed erected in the bush.

When the police got closer to the scene they spotted a group of young men smoking and peddling narcotic drugs with the accused holding a black polythene bag.

On seeing the police the accused dropped the polythene bag and attempted to take to his heels together with his other accomplices, but the police managed to arrest him.

When the polythene bag was opened it contained 83 wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The exhibits were forwarded to the Police Forensic laboratory for testing and the results turned out to be cannabis, a banned narcotic drug, and he was charged with the offence.