Sima jailed 15 years for drugs offences

March 03, 2011
Accra, March 3, GNA - Sima Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Exopa Modelling Agency in Accra, was on Thursday sentenced to 15 years' in prison by an Accra Fast Track High Court for drugs offences.

Sima pleaded not guilty to attempting to export narcotic drugs and possessing narcotic drugs without authority.

However, the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles Quist found him guilty on both counts and sentenced him to 15 years' in jail on each count. The sentences will run concurrently.

The prosecution's case was that the accused concealed five kilogrammes of drugs suspected to be cocaine in some tubers of yam while travelling to Frankfurt, Germany, on September 7, 2009.

While going through departure formalities, officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) opened his luggage and found the tubers of yam, which were joined after they had been cut.

When the yams were sliced, the drugs were found concealed in them.

The prosecution said Sima claimed ownership of the drug claiming he was asked to give it to someone in Germany for a fee of 3,200 dollars.

GNA