Asamankese, April 8, GNA - The Asamankese Circuit Court on Tuesday convicted Yaw Bosompem, a 41-year-old farmer on his own plea to 10 years imprisonment for possession large quantity of Indian hemp. The prosecution told the court presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah that following the upsurge in the peddling and use of drugs in the Kwaebibirem district, the security services stepped up its effort to combat the perpetrators.

The security services worked in collaboration with the district assembly, he said.

The prosecution said, on May 28, last year, Police received information that Bosompem was seen openly smoking and peddling Indian hemp at Akyem Dwenase and also terrorizing the people. On the strength of that information, a team of policemen was dispatched to the town in the early hours of May 30, 2007 to arrest Bosompem.

When a search was conducted in his room, a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp was found concealed in a fertilizer sack. Prosecution said police took possession of the stuff and a pair of scissors and some pieces of paper suspected to be used for wrapping the wee.

He was arrested and taken into custody together with the exhibits. In his caution statement, Bosompem admitted the offence and pleaded for leniency.

The dried leaves were sent to the police crime laboratory and were proved to be Indian hemp.