An Accra Circuit Court yesterday adjourned the case of Lester Ekow Micah, President of the Ghana Music Council, on trial over narcotics related charges to tomorrow, September 2, 2012 after the first Prosecution Witness (PW) was cross-examined by the counsel of the accused.
After John David Percey signaled the end of his cross-examination of PW1, Evans Adu, the police officer who arrested the accused, the trial judge, Aboagye Tandoh, adjourned the case, after ACP Atibilah had informed the court the second prosecution witness was ready to testify.
At the last adjourned date, the court denied the accused bail on grounds that the bail request was premature and that the prosecution ought to be allowed to pursue their case before the court.
The judge urged Mr Micah to calm his nerves because all accused persons are presumed absolutely innocent of the charges preferred against them until the court takes a contrary decision.
Spotted in an all white long sleeves and a pair of white trousers, Mr Micah appeared composed in the dock in a day he drew the support of popular musician, Akosua Agyepong.
Cross-examination
D/Cprl. Evans Adu from the Airport Police Station told the court under cross-examination that he opened the polythene bag containing the dry leaves in the presence of the accused after his arrest.
He also maintained that, the distance between him and the accused when the polythene bag was spotted was just a foot away.
When it was suggested to him the accused uses the substance to perform at his functions and not for his personal use, the witness said he thinks otherwise.
Evidence-in-chief
Earlier, when he was led in his evidence-in-chief by Police prosecution, ACP Moses Atibilah, he said on August 5, a day after the arrest, he, Micah and the investigator in the case, one D/Cprl. Richard Ayayi went to the house of the accused to conduct a search in respect of the extortion case as reported by the complainant.
According to him, while searching the room, he found a black polythene bag in another bag containing the substance suspected to be Indian Hemp.
Mr Micah, he said when questioned about the source of the drug admitted ownership and told the police that he uses it to “ginger” himself in his music career.
But, John David Percey, lawyer for Mr Micah during cross-examination of the witness said the police officer arrested his client based on the suspicion that the substance was a narcotic drug, a position the witness admitted.
The facts
The facts of the case are Mr Micah, on August 4, this year, was arrested by the Airport Police over an alleged extortion case currently under investigations.
ACP Atibillah said the following day, the Police and Mr Micah who wears dreadlocks visited his (Micah’s) house to conduct a search and in the process, a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp was found concealed in Mr Micah’s “back pack.”
The police officer stated that the popular reggae musician admitted ownership of the exhibit and told the police that he smokes the substance to stimulate his music career.
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