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Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 12 November 2015

Source: GNA

Ekow Micah denies possessing wee

Ekow Micah Ekow Micah

Ace Musician, Ekow Micah who is accused of possessing 127 grammes of cannabis has denied owning the alleged substance found in his corridor.

“My Lord I possess nothing. All the allegation before this court are nothing but false. That was the reason why I sacked my first lawyer. I realised that he was trying to push me into a ditch,” Micah told an Accra Circuit Court.

The court however, urged Micah not to allow his sentiments override him and stick to issues concerning the law.

Opening his defence, Micah who described himself as a “humble Musician” said when the alleged substance was picked by Corporal Richmond Ayaayi on his corridor, he told him that “I don’t keep such things in my house”.

Led in evidence by Mr Andrew Kudzo Vortia, defence counsel, Micah said on August 3, this year, he was invited by the Airport Police through a phone call indicating that the Police were investigating an alleged rape case involving Asamoah Gyan, the Black Star Skipper and one Sarah Kwablah.

Micah has denied the charge of possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and he is currently on remand.

According to Micah he honoured the invitation the following day after a friend who is a Police officer had asked him to do so. Micah said the said friend gave him a note to be sent to the Police at the Airport.

“My Lord I responded and handed over the note to the gentleman who claims to be one Ayindoho.”

Micah contended that the gentleman was not Ayindoho. I found out later that he was Corporal Richard Ayaayi, the case investigator.

Micah said he was detained and the following day, Corporal Ayaayi came for him at the cells saying he was taking him to his house to ascertain where he resides in order to grant him bail.

The Ace musician told the court that he was handcuffed and escorted to his house on the Kasoa Road.

Micah said he lived with his younger sister known as Lily Okyere and his nine- year- old son, Salasie Micah.

He said at the house, his sister told him that a fair coloured man came to the house in search of him (Micah).

According to Micah, the said gentleman asked for water but his sister informed him that there was no water in the house.

Micah told the court that the unknown gentleman therefore gave his sister money to purchase water and when his sister returned the man had moved from where he was standing to the main gate of the house.

“Surprisingly the man did not drink the water my sister bought and left two hours after I had arrived in the house with the two Police officers, Micah said.

At this juncture, Micah said the Police told him that they did not come to ascertain where he was residing but to search him.

Micah said: “I told Corporal Ayaayi that that was not fair.”

According to him Corporal Ayaayi took a lead into his corridor because the gate to the corridor was opened he walked through the corridor and bent down at a spot.

Micah said Corporal Ayaayi said he had found some substance in a black polythene bag and called his colleague, Evans Adu who joined him.

He said the investigator told him that it was not because of the substance that the Police came to the house “so they entered my bed room and brought out some Compact Disc (CDs) and a memory chip.

Micah said he was told that the reason for their presence was to retrieve the alleged sex tape of Asamoah Gyan and Sarah Kwablah.

Micah said he was compelled to give a statement and explained that because he was feeling drowsy after sipping canned malt, he was not in the right frame of mind to give a statement to the Police.

Corporal Ayaayi, according to Micah, told him that he was going to dictate for him to write so he (Micah) could be granted bail.

Micah then identified that said statement in court adding that “no witness was there to sign for me.”

Answering questions under cross- examination administered by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Moses Atibillah, Micah explained that the alleged 127 grammes of cannabis did not belong to him.

When the prosecution suggested to Micah that the substance was found in his room, he declared: “My Lord the prosecutor is only prosecuting, he was not there, adding the substance was found on my corridor and not in my room.”

Meanwhile the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh dismissed an application to stay proceedings pending an appeal filed on behalf of Micah.

The court contended that the application lacked merit.

Defence counsel had argued that inadmissible evidence should be expunged from the court proceedings and recall a prosecution witness; Corporal Ayaayi.

Prosecuting, ACP Atibillah objected to the stay of proceedings saying Micah had not demonstrated that the appeal could succeed at a higher court.

According to ACP Atibillah, counsel has not shown that he would suffer any irreparable damage if the application for stay was granted.

ACP Atibillah said prosecution had closed their case after calling three witnesses.

Narrating the facts of the case earlier, ACP Moses Atibillah said Micah is a resident of Ogbojo, near Kokrobite in Accra.

He said, on August 4, Micah was arrested by the Airport Police over an alleged extortion case currently under investigation.

ACP Atimbilah said the following day, at about 1130 hours, the police and the accused person visited Micah’s house to conduct a search and in the process, a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp was found concealed in Micah’s “back pack”.

Hearing continues on November 13.