THE REPUBLIC vs. KWABENA GYASI [2015]DLHC3562

Date	2015-06-08
Suit No.	CASE NO.CC/13/15
Citation No.	[2015]DLHC3562

HER LADYSHIP ANGELINA MENSAH-HOMIAH (MRS.) JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

BENJAMIN ACOLATSE FOR THE ACCUSED

[2015]DLHC3562
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>KWABENA GYASI<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL
DIVISION), KUMASI]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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CASE NO.CC/13/15&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE: 8TH JUNE, 2015<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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BENJAMIN ACOLATSE FOR THE ACCUSED
<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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HER
LADYSHIP ANGELINA MENSAH-HOMIAH (MRS.) JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>It is provided under section (2) 1 of the NARCOTIC
DRUGS (CONTROL, ENFORCEMENT AND SANCTIONS) ACT, 1990 PNDCL 236 as follows:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "
2 (1)&nbsp;&nbsp; A person who, without lawful
authority, the proof of which lies on
that person, has possession or control of a narcotic drug commits an
offence."<o:p></o:p>The accused person before me was charged under this law
as follows:<o:p></o:p>STATEMENT OF OFFENCE<o:p></o:p>POSSESSING NARCOTIC DRUGS WITHOUT LAWFUL AUTHORITY:
SECTION 2 C) OF NARCOTIC DRUGS (CONTROL, ENFORCEMENT AND SANCTION) ACT, 1990
PNDCL 236.<o:p></o:p>PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE<o:p></o:p>KWABENA GYASI: AGED 27:- For that you on the 29th day
of June, 2014 at Agona in the Ashanti Region and within the jurisdiction of
this Court without lawful authority, did have in your possession Fourteen (14)
pieces of compressed dried leaves and quantity of seeds all suspected to be a
narcotic drug.<o:p></o:p>He pleaded not guilty to the charge and is now standing
trial.&nbsp; A summary of the facts are that
whilst the police were conducting a search in the accused person's room and
kiosk after they had received information that some suspected armed robbers
were hiding in Agona Ashanti, they found a black and white polythene bag&nbsp; containing 14 pieces of dried leaves
suspected to Cannabis . The accused was handed over to the Drugs Law and
Enforcement Unit and he claimed ownership in his cautioned statement to the
Police. The exhibits tested positive for cannabis after the same had been
tested by the Ghana Standards Authority.<o:p></o:p>In this trial, the prosecution is enjoined by sections
11(2) and 13(1) of the Evidence Act, 1975 NRCD 323 to prove the guilt of the
accused person beyond every reasonable doubt. From the wording of section 2(1)
of PNDCL 236, the following ingredients must be established to the requisite
degree of proof before the prosecution can secure a conviction:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
accused had custody or control of the drugs<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He
knew of the presence of the drugs ; and<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; He
knew of the nature of the drugs possessed.<o:p></o:p>This means that apart from
proving physical possession, the prosecution must prove legal possession which
entails</main>