After being on remand for almost three years, Kwasi Osae, a farmer, was on Monday sentenced to 10 years in prison in hard labour by the Asamankese Circuit Court for possessing narcotic drug. Osae pleaded not guilty to possessing Indian hemp weighing 940 grammes. Police Chief Inspector Kate Ogyiri, prosecuting, told the court that, policemen on duty at about 07.05 hours on July 04, 2007 at the Asamankese - Oda motor road stopped a taxi cab with registration number ER 756 X. She said when the taxi stopped, Osae was found with a black polythene bag and when it was inspected it was found to contain dried leaves then suspected to be Indian hemp. Osae then made an attempt to run by forcibly opening the door and taking to his heels. He was however chased and arrested and during interrogation, he told the police that he bought the stuff from one "Tortoise". He led the Police to arrest Tortoise but he on seeing the police advancing, fled. The dried leaves, sent to the police Forensic laboratory in Accra proved positive for Indian hemp weighing 940 grammes. The Judge, Mr Emmanuel Siameh, in sentencing him to 10 years said he took into consideration the fact that he had been in prison custody for nearly three years.Source: GNA