An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced Seidu Issah, a 20-year-old trader, who mixed jollof with Indian hemp to ten years imprisonment.
Charged with unlawfully possessing of narcotic drugs, Issah pleaded guilty and was convicted on his plea.
His counsel pleaded for mitigation and urged the court to tamper justice with mercy.
Handing down the sentence the trial judge, Mr Aboagye Tandoh said the court considered the three months the convict had spent in custody. The trial judge also ordered the court’s registrar and officials of the Criminal Investigations Department to destroy the parcel of Indian hemp and 58 wrappers of dry leaves retrieved from the convict. Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patience Mario said the complainant, Kwame Antwi, is a businessmen living at Dome Zongo in Accra, while the suspect lives at Achimota Abofu, also in Accra.
The court heard that the complainant’s wife operates a drinking spot at Dome Afghanistan and that the convict had been peddling narcotics in and around the spot.
DSP Marion said attempts by the complainant and his wife to stop Issah from engaging in the drug business around the area had proved futile.
She said at about 07:30 am on September 23 this year, the wife of the complainant found her younger sister, Latifah Ibrahim deeply asleep at the spot.
DSP Marion said complainant’s wife was informed that the convict used Indian hemp to prepare jollof and gave some to Latifah, making her sleepy throughout the next day. A complaint was so lodged at the Dome Police Station where Latifah was issued with a medical form to seek attention.
DSP Mario said Issah was later arrested with 58 wrappers of dried leaves, and a parcel of Indian hemp on him.
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