There was mystery surrounding the whereabouts of the sensational hiplife artiste and rapper, Kwaw Kese aka Abodam, born Emmanuel Botchwey, who was convicted for a day’s imprisonment by the KmA Circuit Court presided over by Justice William Boampong, a high court judge.
He was nowhere to be found in the Central Prisons as he was said to have slept outside the facility.
He was whisked away from court on Thursday to begin his sentence in prison, but the prison authorities said the hiplife superstar was not brought to their custody after the sentence.
ASP Richard Bukari, Ashanti regional Public relations officer of Ghana Prison services, told that the exact whereabouts of the rapper remained a mystery, asserting that the Prison service did not receive the convicted artiste and could not tell where he was sent to after his conviction.
His counterpart with the Ashanti regional Police Command, Inspector Godwin Ahiayor, also had no knowledge of where Abodam slept that night as at press time yesterday.
The development has deepened rumours that the sentence was nothing less than cosmetic, in view of theoffence – possessing marijuana – under which he was convicted.
He was due to be released from prison yesterday per the sentence, and in addition pay a fine of GH¢1,200 imposed by the KMA court.
The famous hiplife singer was convicted for smoking wee in public in November last year.
Abodam, upon his return to breathe an air of freedom, tweeted early Friday morning: “Madded morning to y’all !!! Wofreme #Yakubu… I want all my fans and loved ones to know that am doing great and back home. Thanks y’all for the luv and upport. #iappreciatedaluv #Yakubu.”
Arrest
Kwaw Kese was arrested at the wine shop of Plus 2 Pub at Nhyiaeso, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, on November 22, 2014 and arraigned for prosecution subsequently.
Uniformed policemen on snap check duties close to the pub arrested Kwaw Kese when they were informed about his offensive conduct – smoking the illicit substance in the midst of people.
ASP Charles Appiah of the Police Drug Law Enforcement Unit said the incident happened around 11pm when several people were making merry at the Plus 2 Pub.
Abodam was said to have gone to Kumasi to take part in the famous ‘Old School Reunion’ programme aired by a Kumasi-based radio station – LUV Fm – at the Baba Yara Stadium.
He proceeded to the Plus 2 Wine Shop, a popular hangout in the city, after the programme where he decided to smoke the narcotic substance.
Scores of people who became offended alerted the police, leading to his arrest, which he did not resist, but pleaded clemency from the law enforcers and was put before the court for trial.
The court remanded him into prison custody.
In-And-Out Of KATH
He was put into a police van and sent to the Kumasi Central Prisons which served as his new home until he was granted bail on December 30, 2014 on health grounds.
The court granted him GH¢80,000 bail with one surety to be justified, and he had been in and out of hospital prior to his trial.
He was rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) on December 11 – a day before he made his second appearance in court – after complaining of stomach upset.
Police put him under a 24-hour guard at a special ward at KATH while medical officers observed his condition.
His initial plea for bail was refused by judge Boampong, who has now been promoted to a high court.