Carpenter jailed three years for possessing firearms
Tribunal bans accused from entering VELD offices
Carpenter jailed three years for possessing firearms
Accra (Greater Accra), 3rd November 99
An Accra Circuit Tribunal on Tuesday sentenced Koosi Apeti, a carpenter to three years' imprisonment in hard labour, for possessing a locally manufactured pistol without permission.
Apeti, 37, pleaded not guilty to possessing fire arms without authority.
The tribunal chaired by Mr. Charles Nyewolema noted with dismay, the proliferation of guns in the country and warned that the tribunal would not spare anyone brought before him for a similar offence and ordered that the pistol be confiscated to the state.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Margaret Awuni, said sometime in September, Apeti gave a locally manufactured pistol to his friend, Philip Quarcoe, who is a blacksmith to repair it for him.
The prosecutor said after the repairs, Apeti went to the beach to try it, but he misfired and wounded his fingers and was rushed to the hospital.
Chief Inspector Awuni said while at the hospital, the anti-robbery squad of the Police was alerted and Apeti who did not possess a permit for carrying fire arms was arrested.
During investigation, he told the Police that he found the pistol at the Omandzo Shrine, in the Ga District, but the Police did not believe his explanation.
GRi
Prisoner escapes from trial
Tema (Greater Accra), 3rd November 99
The hunt is on for Afortey Odai, a prisoner at Nsawam Medium security prison bolted from the Team circuit tribunal where he was to stand trial for another offence of stealing on Tuesday.
Before the start of the trial Odai asked to see his brother who was also in the court room and was granted permission in the company of a warder whose name was given as Nkansah, Mr. Livingston Sanifu, a senior warder, told the press.
"After about thirty minutes when the warder and the prisoner did not return, I traced them to where they were sitting but was told they both left the tribunal", Mr. Sanafu said.
Later, Nkansah came to report that Odai who was not in handcuffs could not be found, Mr. Safanu said adding that a search has been mounted for Odai. He refused to say what crimes Odai has committed.
The tribunal chaired by Mr. R. C. Azumah advised Prison Warders to be careful when prisoners are entrusted to them.
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Tribunal bans accused from entering VELD offices
Accra (Greater Accra), 3rd November 99
An Accra Circuit Tribunal, on Tuesday banned Emmanuel Mensah Nyani, a sign writer, from entering the offices of the Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division (VELD), when he appeared before it charged with forgery of document.
Nyani pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy, stealing and forgery of document. He was granted a five million cedis bail to re-appear on November nine.
Two of his accomplices, whom the Prosecution named as Enchil and Nickerman, are at large.
The prosecution said on March 13, Mr. Richard Donkor, a businessman sent his vehicle to the VELD to be registered for commercial operations.
He met Nyani and the two others, who operate near the VELD premises as sign writers and vehicle number plate embossment agents, who promised to help him.
Nyani and his accomplices allegedly collected 1.2 million cedis and prepared fictitious documents to cover the vehicle and its conversion into a commercial one.
When the complainant presented the documents to VELD officials they detected that the documents were fake, and after investigations, found that the accused and his accomplices were responsible for the forgery.
GRi