Two British face Ghana trial over possession of suspected Indian hemp

Two British, who were arrested for possessing a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, were arraigned at an Accra circuit court on Tuesday.

Sherrif Hussein, businessman and Simone Scantebury, writer, both pleaded not guilty to the offence.

They were, however, remanded into police custody to reappear on May 28, 2013.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Reindolf Agyeman, told the court that the complainants were police officers stationed at Osu District Police Command while the accused persons, who live at Teshie, were a businessman and a writer respectively.

He said the complainants were on duty on May 11, 2013 at the Osu Advent Press conducting snap checks while a taxi cab pulled up in which the accused persons were on board.

DSP Agyeman said when the taxi was stopped, a search conducted on the accused persons revealed a quantity of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.

The Prosecution told the court that upon questioning the accused persons they told the police that the dry leaves belonged to them and that they used it as an appetizer.

He said the accused persons were later brought to the police station and were arraigned before the court.

Source: GNA