GRi in Court Ghana 09 - 11 - 2000
Security man beats former wife over food
Customs officials intercept arms
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 Nov. 2000
An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Wednesday remanded in prison custody, the driver and mate of the Nissan Urvan bus accused of causing the accident involving the presidential convoy on the Accra- Tema motor way on October 29.
The driver, Daniel Dawutey Chakitey, 30 was charged with man-slaughter and negligently causing harm, while the driver's mate, Samuel Kawbena Cudjoe, was charged with abetment.
Their plea was not taken and they will reappear on November 16.
Chief Inspector Edward Antwi told the tribunal, chaired by Mr. Ziblim Moru that Chakitey plies between Somanya and Accra with his mate.
On October 29 Chakitey carried passengers from Ashaiman to Accra and on their way back from Accra, he decided to use the motorway, because the tunnel he travelled through earlier was waterlogged.
He said at the end of the motorway near Tetteh Quarshie circle, Chakitey stopped and picked two passengers. The accused then drove on the outer lane of the motorway while the President's convoy was on the inner lane heading towards Tema.
Chief Inspector Antwi said, on reaching a spot near the Ashaiman tunnel Chakitey suddenly crossed the presidential convoy with the intent to turn to Ashaiman through an unapproved route.
He said the president's car nearly ran into Chakitey's bus, but the President swerved. A Mercedes Benz saloon car carrying the president's bodyguards however ran into the bus which eventually hit the side of the president's car.
Chief Inspector Antwi said the Benz saloon car skidded, hit the embankments between the two roads, somersaulted into the other lane and crashed into an approaching red Toyota pick-up car, instantly killing Corporal Kwame Boateng, Corporal Kwabena Aboagye, Lance Corporal Kweku Ewun-Tomah and Lance Corporal Martin Kumashie.
Five others, including the president and his wife sustained injuries.
The prosecutor said Chakitey and Cudjoe escaped to Somanya and despite the numerous announcements and notices in the electronic and print media, they failed to report to the police, until they were arrested upon a tip- off by one of the passengers on the bus.
Chief Inspector Antwi told the tribunal that the case was being forwarded to the Attorney's General Department for advice.
GRi../
Accra (Greater Accra) 09 Nov. 2000
An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Wednesday imposed a fine of 700,000 cedis on Mathias Amissah, a security man, who beat up his former wife for failing to cook for him after giving her 110,000 cedis on two occasions.
Amissah pleaded guilty to causing unlawful harm.
The tribunal, chaired by Mr. Mohammed Nabon ordered that 500,000 cedis out of the fine, if paid, should be given as compensation to the complainant, Madam Atta Panyin.
The accused will go to prison for three months in hard labour in default of payment.
GRi../
Aflao (Volta Region) 09 Nov. 2000
Customs officials at the Aflao border at the weekend intercepted two Nigeria-bound vehicles carrying large quantities of ammunition concealed in petrol tanks and two double-barrelled gun butts.
Ejike Anumeayi, 33, and Samuel Obiayulu, 42, who were driving the cars with registration numbers AM 359GDD and BL195AAA, have been remanded in police custody by the Aflao Circuit Court to re-appear on November 13.
Inspector Kofi Frimpong told the court, presided over by Mr Francis Opoku, that Anumeayi, who plies between Nigeria and Ghana, pulled up at the Aflao border on Friday, November 3 for a routine search on the vehicle.
Customs officials uncovered 417 pieces of ammunition, two double-barrelled gun butts and four wrappers containing dry leaves suspected to be cannabis concealed in a false compartment of the petrol tank of the car.
Inspector Frimpong said the suspect, who refused to mention the source of the ammunition, said he uses the cannabis to cure asthma.
The prosecutor said Obiayulu, who also plies between Nigeria and Ghana, was arrested at the border on Sunday, November 5, after an examination conducted on his car led to the discovery of 60 packets of ammunition containing 1,495 pieces (AA and BB) cartridges concealed in a false compartment of the petrol tank.
According to Frimpong the accused alleged that he hatched the plan to smuggle the ammunition with one Anthony, a Ghanaian, who is on the run, for higher returns.
In another development, a Ghanaian, Anna Yao Asiedu, 31, who attempted to smuggle six large wrappers containing substances suspected to be cannabis has been arrested by customs officials.