The Accra Circuit Court has acquitted and discharged three persons, including a policeman, who were standing trial for their alleged involvement in the trafficking of 283 compressed slabs of cannabis sativa.
The court took the decision after a state attorney, Mrs Safakor Batse, had filed a nolle prosequi signed by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice for the case to be discontinued.
The three are Chief Inspector Paul Akpabli, who was stationed at Golokoati in the Volta Region, Peter Kamasah, a driver, and Daniel Ekualiho, a carpenter.
They were arrested for allegedly trafficking seven fertiliser sacks containing the 283 slabs of the narcotic drug on August 10, 2014 near Sokode-Ando in the Volta Region.
Charge They were charged with possessing narcotic drug without lawful authority but they pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Background Prosecuting, Mrs Batse told the court that the complainants were policemen stationed at the SWAT Unit in Ho in the Volta Region.
She said Chief Inspector Akapbli was a serving police chief inspector at Golokoati, while his accomplices, Kamasah and Ekualiho, were a driver and a carpenter respectively.
On August 10, 2014, the complainants had information that a Hyundai mini bus with registration number AS 6936—09, had been loaded with sacks containing 283 compressed slabs of plant material suspected to be cannabis sativa and was on the way to Dzodze from Kpeve in the Volta Region.
The prosecutor said the complainants intercepted the bus which was being driven by Kamasah at Sokode Ando with Chief Inspector Akapbli and Ekualiho on board.
A search conducted on the vehicle in the presence of the three accused persons revealed seven fertiliser sacks with 283 slabs of plant material suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Mrs Batse said Chief Inspector Akapbli denied knowledge of the contents of the sacks but Kamasah and Ekualiho informed the complainants that they were hired by someone to transport the narcotic drug.
According to her, they told the policemen who arrested them that the owner of the items asked them to contact Chief Inspector Akapbli and give him an amount of GH¢400 to lead them to Kpeve-Tornu where they loaded the drugs onto the bus.
The two agreed with Chief Inspector Akpabli to escort them halfway to Dzodze, and it was during the journey that they were arrested.
An amount of GHC1,100 was retrieved from Chief Inspector Akapbli and out of the amount, his accomplices identified the GH¢400 which they handed over to him as payment from the owner of the substance.
A test conducted on the contents of the sacks tested positive for cannabis sativa.
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