'I used Indian hemp to treat my wounds' -accused tells court
Gilbert Boyefio
11/09/2008
An alleged wee smoker, Christopher Afotey Quaye, has told the police that he uses Indian hemp powder to treat a sour at the back of his left arm, saying this was based on the advice of a friend.
This was disclosed to a Circuit Court in Accra by Detective Sergeant Dennis Terpkertey of the Nungua Divisional CID, and the investigator in the case, in his evidence in-chief to the court.
He told the court that Afotey Quaye stated the above in his caution statement to the police after he had been arrested with one Kofi Nyarko, for possessing16 wrappers of Indian hemp without legal authority.
According to Detective Sergeant Terkpertey, Afotey Quaye and Kofi Nyarko were arrested on July 23 around 8:45pm at the Nungua barrier playing field by a combined police and military patrol team on their normal night patrol.
He said the two went to the playing field to buy the narcotic drug which they smoked nearby. He said the two accused persons were about to leave the place when the patrol team got to the scene.
The Detective Sergeant said there were about 23 people on the scene and they all took to their heels but the two accused persons were arrested.
During cross-examination by Nii Acquaye Bruce-Thompson, counsel for the accused persons, Detective Sergeant Terkpertey said the statements he took from them were on possession of 16 wrappers of Indian hemp.
He admitted that it was the arresting officers who informed him that there were other people on the playing field who ran away when they got to the scene. He however, denied that the 16 wrappers of Indian hemp were found far away on the field, noting, "It was found at the spot where the two accused persons were arrested.”
He did not further agree with the lawyer that any of the 23 people on the playing field could have dropped the 16 wrappers. He said the accused persons were arrested because the arresting officers smelt the drug on their breath.
When the court later asked the defence to open their case, Nii Acquaye Bruce-Thompson submitted that there was no case against them to respond to, and therefore pleaded with the court to absolve his clients from the charges.
He told the court that although his clients were charged with possession of Indian hemp, which they had denied, the police had not proved that the 16 wrappers of Indian hemp found on the field belonged to them, and moreover, the prosecution could not link his clients with the drug, adding that the only thing his clients could have been charged with was smoking Indian hemp.
He told the court that asking them (clients) to open their defence would be like asking them to explain why they were on the field.
The case has therefore been adjourned until September 15 for ruling - on whether the defence has a case to answer or not.
11/09/2008
An alleged wee smoker, Christopher Afotey Quaye, has told the police that he uses Indian hemp powder to treat a sour at the back of his left arm, saying this was based on the advice of a friend.
This was disclosed to a Circuit Court in Accra by Detective Sergeant Dennis Terpkertey of the Nungua Divisional CID, and the investigator in the case, in his evidence in-chief to the court.
He told the court that Afotey Quaye stated the above in his caution statement to the police after he had been arrested with one Kofi Nyarko, for possessing16 wrappers of Indian hemp without legal authority.
According to Detective Sergeant Terkpertey, Afotey Quaye and Kofi Nyarko were arrested on July 23 around 8:45pm at the Nungua barrier playing field by a combined police and military patrol team on their normal night patrol.
He said the two went to the playing field to buy the narcotic drug which they smoked nearby. He said the two accused persons were about to leave the place when the patrol team got to the scene.
The Detective Sergeant said there were about 23 people on the scene and they all took to their heels but the two accused persons were arrested.
During cross-examination by Nii Acquaye Bruce-Thompson, counsel for the accused persons, Detective Sergeant Terkpertey said the statements he took from them were on possession of 16 wrappers of Indian hemp.
He admitted that it was the arresting officers who informed him that there were other people on the playing field who ran away when they got to the scene. He however, denied that the 16 wrappers of Indian hemp were found far away on the field, noting, "It was found at the spot where the two accused persons were arrested.”
He did not further agree with the lawyer that any of the 23 people on the playing field could have dropped the 16 wrappers. He said the accused persons were arrested because the arresting officers smelt the drug on their breath.
When the court later asked the defence to open their case, Nii Acquaye Bruce-Thompson submitted that there was no case against them to respond to, and therefore pleaded with the court to absolve his clients from the charges.
He told the court that although his clients were charged with possession of Indian hemp, which they had denied, the police had not proved that the 16 wrappers of Indian hemp found on the field belonged to them, and moreover, the prosecution could not link his clients with the drug, adding that the only thing his clients could have been charged with was smoking Indian hemp.
He told the court that asking them (clients) to open their defence would be like asking them to explain why they were on the field.
The case has therefore been adjourned until September 15 for ruling - on whether the defence has a case to answer or not.
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