afrol News, 10 January - The sentencing of the two British teenagers found guilty of smuggling six kilograms of cocaine has been deferred for the second time by a juvenile court in the capital Accra. The reasons for the deferment was to allow a social services report to be taken into consideration.

The two girls aged 16 - Yatunde Diya and Yasemin Vatansever - were arrested on July 2, 2007 at Kotoka International Airport in Accra when anti-drugs officers found cocaine worth ₤300,000 in laptop bags they were carrying as they boarded a flight to London .

They were arranged before the court and found guilty in November last year. However, the girls are yet to receive their sentence, as earlier dates were adjourned.

The new date for the sentencing has been scheduled for 23 January.

A Spokesman of the British High Commission in Accra said they were informed by Ghana's Social Welfare Department that they had not finished studying the report. Gary Nicholls,

“Since they are expected to add their comments before submitting it to the court, the judge has agreed to give them a further two weeks,” Gary Nicholls told reporters.

Nicholls said the judge would not accept any further delay.

The teenagers - who pleaded not guilty to the charges - said they were tricked into carrying the bags by male acquaintances in Ghana and Britain, insisting they did not know the contents of the bags.

The two were arrested under Operation Westbridge, a project set up by Britain and Ghana to tackle drug smugglers using Accra airport as a gateway to Britain and Europe .

By Sulayman Makalo in Accra, Ghana

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

UN will not monitor human rights in Western Sahara afrol News - The US has backed down on its demand that UN peacekeepers in Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara also shall monitor the human rights situation after Moroccan sources threatened to scale down relations with Washington. Read more

Central African Republic

Central African Republic falling apart afrol News - One month after the rebel movement Séléka took over power in the Central African Republic, unrest is spreading in the country. The new leader lacks control of his forces, which continue looting and abusing civilians. Read more

Kenya

Kenyatta secures tight victory in Kenya afrol News - The official election results in Kenya have finally been announced, and Uhuru Kenyatta managed to win the first poll round outright with a narrow 50.7 percent. But the main opponent, PM Raila Odinga, is filing a vote rigging complaint to the courts. Read more

Cape Verde Cape Verde to produce dragon fruit afrol News - Cape Verde authorities have invested large sums to diversify the arid country's agricultural sector. Now, the dragon fruit, originating in tropical America, is being introduced for the first commercial production in Africa. Read more

Egypt Even governors in Pharaonic Egypt died in their 20s afrol News - Researchers have analysed more than 200 mummies from ancient Egypt, finding that even high dignitaries were poorly nourished and had infectious diseases. The typical governor in Pharaonic Egypt died before he was 30 years old. Read more