Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Source: GNA

Security Officer remanded on drug charge

A Security Officer, Stephen Gbafa, was on Tuesday remanded by an Accra Circuit Court, after he was arrested with 42 compressed parcels of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

Stephen pleaded not guilty to the charge, and was remanded by the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, to re-appear on October 26.

The prosecutor, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Moses Atibilla told the court that the complainants are policemen from the Alpha Swat Unit , Accra, Regional police, while the accused person is a security officer with COB ‘A’ Industries Limited, producers of Standard Water.

He said on October 3, at about 1700 hours the complainants had information that the accused person had taken delivery of a sack containing some substances suspected to be Indian hemp at Agbogblosie, onion market, and was heading towards the 37 Military Hospital.

The prosecution said the complainants quickly proceeded to the Kanda Highway and fortunately caught up with the accused person and one Reindolf Anthony on board a taxi.

ACP Atibilla told the court that the complainants stopped the taxi and arrested Stephen and Reindolf.

The prosecution said a search was conducted in the cap, and 42 brownish parcels containing dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were found in the boot.

He said the two, together with the exhibits, were sent to the Regional CID, Accra, where Stephen stated that it was his son, one Courage who sent the exhibits to him from Hohoe, and that Reindolf was only a friend whom he pleaded with to accompany him to Agbogbloshie to receive the exhibits.