The Asamankese Circuit Court presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah, on Monday sentenced two young men to a total of 18 years in prison for drug offences. Eric Owusu, 20, charged with possessing Indian hemp received 13 years while Jerry Appoh, 22, had five years for smoking the hemp. Both pleaded not guilty. Police Chief Inspector Ben Brew told the court that on January 11, 2007 Suhum Police had information that a group of young men had converged on the field near the Suhum Secondary Technical School smoking wee. The police moved to the area and on seeing them they took to their heels but Owusu and Appoh were arrested. Owusu had in his possession a small bag containing 47 wrappers of the hemp while Appoh was caught smoking the wee. In a related development, Jacob Awatey, a -20-year-old farmer, on Monday appeared before the Asamankese Circuit Court charged with stealing cocoa beans. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded to reappear on September 15. Police Chief Inspector Ben Brew told the court that on August 21, a farmer, Jacob Amanor dried a quantity of cocoa beans in his house and left for his farm. He said Amanor returned home later in day to discover that the beans had disappeared. On his own enquiries, he learnt that Awatey was found with cocoa beans in a sack he was offering for sale and when he confronted the accused he admitted stealing the beans from a house in their village. He was arrested and taken to the police station. Source: GNA