Tema, Mar 15, GNA - The Tema Circuit Court 91A' on Tuesday sentenced two men to 10 years imprisonment each for possessing narcotic drugs. Joseph Imbil and Kudjoe Asamoah all residents of Tema New Town, are to start serving their sentences retrospectively from February 28, 2009 which was the day of their arrest. Imbil and Asamoah pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing narcotic drugs.

The court presided over by Mrs Lorinda Owusu acquitted and discharged Adam Damatta, who also pleaded not guilty to the same charge due to the inability of the prosecution to prove its case. Chief Inspector Adolphus Otchere, the prosecutor, stated that on February 28, 2009 a team of police officers went on a swoop at Abonkor, a suburb of Tema New Town, to clamp down on activities of Indian hemp peddlers and smokers.

Chief Inspector Otchere said during the exercise, Damatta was arrested with 27 wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp of which some were found hidden in her brazier. Imbil was arrested with a black handbag containing 56 wrappers of the dried leaves, and 13 wrappers of a white substance suspected to be cocaine.

Asamoah was also apprehended with 94 wrappers of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, and four bottles of local bitters made up of the dried leaves. The presiding judge said she dealt leniently with Imbil and Asamoah by giving them the minimum sentence, because they were first offenders. The judge explained that the prosecution was unable to prove its case against Damatta as the supposed confession caution statement taken from her in the presence of an independent witness used the pronouns him. Mrs Owusu said the use of those pronouns made it difficult for the court to believe that the independent witness was present when the caution statement was taken, thus making the exhibit not credible. 15 Mar 11