Trader in double agony

Accra Dec. GNA - Mercy Agbenagi, a trader who was to be arrested by the police for causing harm to a colleague had her plight worsened when she was caught with quantity of Indian hemp soaked in "akpeteshie", a local gin Mercy charged with causing unlawful harm and possessing Indian hemp pleaded not guilty before an Accra Circuit Court, which remanded her to reappear on December 20.

Mr Nathaniel Osam, the judge, refusing the accused bail stated that it was premature to admit Mercy to bail but cautioned prosecution to expedite investigations into the matter.

The case of prosecution was that Mercy and Korshie Lamptey, the complainant sold local drinks at Chorkor, on the beach. On September 3, this year, Mercy's boyfriend Amartey Sossidis, now at large, went to Ms Lamptey's house to ask her why she was selling drink to Mercy.

Prosecution said that led to an argument and Sossisdis threatened to butcher Ms Lamptey who reported the incident to the police. According to the prosecution, Sossidis who got wind of his intended arrest disappeared.

Mercy, who did not take kindly to Ms Lamptey's action also picked a quarrel with her during which Mercy assaulted Ms Lamptey, stabbed her on the left eyebrow and she lost her tooth.

Prosecution said Ms Lamptey reported the matter to the police and Mercy was arrested. During Mercy's arrest, a black polythene bag containing Indian hemp was found in her kiosk.

Some of the Indian hemp was found in a bottle containing the gin.