Fake Soldier Handed Ten Years For Ganja

An Accra circuit court has sentenced one Patrick Akoto, unemployed, to 10 years in prison for possessing a parcel of compressed narcotic drugs without lawful authority.

Patrick, who claims to be a soldier from 66 Artillery Regiment, Ho Barracks in the Volta Region, was charged with possession of narcotic drugs and pretending to be a public officer.

Patrick pleaded not guilty to both charges, but after trial he was found guilty by the court, presided over by Aboagye Tandoh. He is to serve the sentence in hard labour.

Earlier, the prosecution, led by Superintendent Kweku Bempah, had told the court that the complainants are policemen from Formed Police Unit (FPU), Accra, who were on duty at Amrahia on the Dodowa road, while the Patrick resides at Asikuma in the Eastern Region.

He said on August 16, 2017 at about 2230 hours, the accused was found on board a Toyota mini bus wearing a military camouflage shirt.

Superintendent Bempah said Patrick ordered the police to give way for the vehicle to pass without searching it because he is a soldier, adding that he rained insults on the police officers.

The prosecutor quoted the fake soldier as querying the law enforcers (compainants), “Who is police? I am a soldier from 66 Artillery Regiment, Ho Barracks and if I come down you will see the other side of me.”

The prosecutor said the complainants suspected him and so searched him and discovered that he was sitting on a parcel of wrapped compressed leaves suspected to be Indian hemp (wee).

Superintendent Bempah said Patrick was arrested together with the stuff, which was in a black polythene bag.

The driver of the vehicle, one Elvis Dadzie, a witness in this case, claimed that the parcel was with the accused when he boarded the vehicle.

Patrick was interrogated by the complainants and he denied being a military officer.

He was therefore, sent to the Adenta police station together with the exhibits.

GNA