Fast Track High Court acquits prisoner of drug charges

A Fast Track High Court in Accra on Wednesday quashed a 10-year jail term for narcotic related offence imposed on a prisoner who is already serving a 20-year term for robbery. The court presided over by Mr. Justice Charles Quist ruled that the ruling of a circuit court at Sunyani was based on speculation and that could not be used in convicting Iddrisu Yakubu, a driver, hence he was acquitted and discharged. Yakubu, who is also serving 20 years in jail for robbery at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, could not hide his feelings and continuously made the sign of the cross amidst laughter. Yakubu appealed against the Sunyani Circuit Court judgment which convicted him to a 10-year jail term on abetment of possessing narcotic drug. Yakubu was serving the 20-year jail term in Sunyani Prison for robbery when on April 4, last year two prison officers arrested two prisoners with wrappers of Indian hemp. When the prisoners were interrogated they stated it was Yakubu who supplied them with the drug. At that time, Yakubu had gone out to work with other inmates at the prison and on his arrival, he was searched and interrogated over the issue and nothing was found on him. However, the court in its judgment said since Yakubu had been going out to render external labour it was likely that he had the drugs on him and supplied same. On his appeal, the Fast Track High Court noted that trial judge�s decision was speculative and that could not be used in convicting Yakubu because he was not caught with the drugs. The Fast Track High Court noted that Yakubu could not be charged with the offence and it quashed decision of the Sunyani Circuit Court and acquitted and discharged him.