There was drama in a Kumasi Circuit Court, as a man standing trial over illegal possession of marijuana, profusely opposed the drug exhibit the prosecution had sought to tender as evidence.
Ismael Boakye, alias “Negus”, had been caught with 25 wraps of the psychoactive drug but after it had been sent for laboratory examination, the number of wraps rose to 26.
The accused, having noticed the loophole, objected to the exhibit being admitted by the court, presided over by Mr. Ekow Mensah.
He insisted, that could not have been the stuff seized from him by the police and this was upheld by the court.
He was ordered to make his next appearance on September 16, from prison, where he is being held.
This was after the prosecution led by Police Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Akunnor, had pleaded with the court for time to put its “house in order”.
Boakye had been arrested with the suspected had drug, concealed in a black polythene bag in Tepa, the capital of Ahafo-Ano North District on May 18, last year.
He is facing a charge of possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority and he has pleaded not guilty.
Officers of the Drug Law Enforcement Unit had apprehended Boakye with the dried leaves based upon a tip off.
He reportedly mentioned one Adom as his source of supply but could not lead the police to the said man.
Sample of the leaves examined at laboratory of the Ghana Standard Authority proved that it is indeed marijuana but how the 25 wraps changed to 26 wraps remains a puzzle to be resolved.
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