I was just throwing it away – Woman accused of hiding narcotic substance tells court

A 58-year-old trader who is standing trial together with a motor mechanic for hiding narcotic substance says she had no idea of the content of what she was throwing away.

“I was just throwing the black polythene bag away, I didn’t know what was in it,” Salamatu Amadu explained to the judge in court on Thursday.

The 58-year-old woman who could barely stand on her feet during the session said she was not guilty of what she has been accused of.

“I was just sweeping and saw the rubber, I didn’t know what was inside,” she told the court.

Salamatu was in court for interfering with arrest and seizure of narcotics, contrary to section 49 (B) of the Narcotic Control Commission Act 2020 (Act 1019).

While, the 27-year-old Yakubu Musah, who is an auto mechanic has been slapped with unlawful possession or control of narcotic drugs, contrary to section 37 (1) of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019).

Facts

The facts of the case presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Emmanuel Nyamekye, were that the complainants, in the case, are police officers stationed at the Drug Law Enforcement Unit, CID Headquarters, Accra.

The first accused person, Yakubu Musah, is a motor mechanic and the second accused person is Salamatu Adamu, a trader.

They both reside at Nima in Accra.

On August 5, this year, about 4:20pm, the complainants (police officers) acted upon intelligence and proceeded to Panama near Nima in Accra and arrested Yakubu in front of a grocery store.

In the course of the arrest, the second accused person [Salamatu Adamu] was sighted throwing a black polythene bag away.

The police were suspicious about the act and followed up.

When the polythene bag was picked and opened in the presence of both accused persons and the other witnesses, it was found to contain 32 brown paper wraps of dried leaves suspected to be narcotic drugs.

When questioned, Salamatu pointed and mentioned Yakubu as the owner of the suspected drugs.

A search conducted on Yakubu led to the discovery of an amount of GH₵29.00 believed to be proceeds of the narcotics trade.

In his caution statement, Yakubu denied the offence and stated that he used to be a “weed” seller, but quit the trade since January this year.

The prosecution says the exhibits will be forwarded to Forensic Science Laboratory for examination and report.

Meanwhile, the two have been granted bail by the Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Evelyn Asamoah.

Salamatu Amadu was granted bail in the sum of GH₵60,000 with three sureties, two of who must be public servants.

Yakubu Musah was also granted bail in the sum of GH₵50, 000 with two sureties.

The judge, Evelyn Asamoah, directed the police prosecutor to file all the witness statement before September 10, this year.

The case has been adjourned to September 16, 2020.