Accra, Jan. 8, GNA – Three women, including a pregnant woman, were on Tuesday granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court for possessing various quantities of dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
Beatrice Agbalenyo, 25, unemployed was said to have in her possession six compressed slabs and nine pieces of polythene bags containing dried leaves, while Ellen Ama Egbi, 25 also unemployed was said to also have in her possession 11 compressed slabs and 14 pieces of polythene bags containing dried leaves.
The third accused Rukaya Sarfo, 25, who is four months pregnant, was also reported to have in her possession 10 compressed slabs and eight pieces of polythene bags containing dried leaves.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Beatrice and Ellen were granted bail in the sum of GH¢120,000.00 with two sureties each, while Rukaya was granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 100,000.00, with one surety.
The court ordered them to report to the police Criminal Investigations Department once every two weeks, specifically on Thursday, until the court decides otherwise.
The court also directed the prosecution to file all relevant documents it would be relying on for the trial before the next adjourned date.
The case has been adjourned to January 30.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mawenyo Nanegbe, prosecuting, told the court that complainants were Police Officers from the Highway Patrol Department and that on December 6 last year, the officers embarked on patrol duties on the Accra-Ho road.
He said at about 0000 hours the team stopped a Toyota Hiace mini bus, with registration No. VR 117-17, with passengers on board at Akuse Junction for a routine check.
He said in the course of a search, the team retrieved a brown leather bag and two black backpacks.
The police demanded for their owners and Beatrice claimed ownership of the brown leather bag, while Ellen and Rukaya claimed ownership of the two other black backpacks.
The prosecution said when the bags were opened in the presence of the accused persons, the brown leather bag was found to have six compressed slabs and nine pieces of polythene bags containing quantities of dried leaves all suspected to be narcotic drugs.
The first black backpack belonging to Ellen was also found to contain 11 compressed slabs and 14 pieces of polythene bags with quantities of dried leaves all suspected to be narcotic drugs.
The second black backpack which Rukaya claimed ownership was also opened and 10 compressed slabs and eight pieces of polythene bags containing quantities of dried leaves also suspected to be narcotic drugs.
DSP Nanegbe said the accused persons upon interrogation told the police that the parcels were given to them by a man popularly called ’Driver’ in Ahado, a suburb of Hohoe, whom they can identify when seen to be delivered to a recipient whose cell phone number was given to them to be contacted on reaching Accra.
He told the court that in their respective caution statements to the police, the accused persons denied knowledge of the exhibits and said they were only given the bags by one 'Driver’ to be delivered on reaching Accra.
He said the exhibit had been forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination and that on receipt of the report the case docket would be sent to the Attorney General’s Department for advice.
GNA
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