Football fan granted bail for taking Indian hemp to stadium

Kumasi, Jan. 25, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court on Thursday granted a GH=A210,000 bail with two sureties to a football fan who was said to have carried some dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp to the Baba Yara sports stadium during the match between Egypt and Cameroon of the African Cup of Nations on Tuesday.

The plea of Michael Osei, the culprit, was not taken. Meanwhile the leaves have been sent to the Police Forensic Laboratory in Accra for examination.

Osei has been asked to appear before the court again on February 20 2008.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Comfort Baffour Kyei told the court presided over by Madam Wilhelmina Hammond that, on Tuesday at about 1630 hours when sports fans were entering the gate to watch the match, Osei dropped a cigarette box and its contents made up of a stick of cigarette and a quantity of dried wrapped leaves spilled on the ground. A Police Officer on duty who saw the "stuff" asked for its owner and Osei owned up and collected it. He was then arrested and charged with the offence.