MD In Trouble

THE MANAGING Director of Japan Motors has been hauled before an Accra Circuit court on charges of trespassing and demolishing of a house belonging to a retired Chief Inspector of Police, Alhaji M. Alidu and that of his sister, a certain Irene Ponu, at North West Ashalley-Botwe in Accra.

The accused, Sallah Kalmoni, who was arraigned earlier before the court presided over by Justice Nathaniel Osam but failed to appear, escaped a bench warrant after his counsel pleaded on his behalf.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has been granted a GH¢60,000 bail to re-appear on April 30, 2008 for hearing.

The prosecutor, ASP George Abavelim told the court that Kalmoni trespassed and destroyed the two houses valued at ¢85 million and ¢240million cedis respectively.

According to him, Alhaji Alidu and Irene Ponu purchased the two plots of land from Lands and Housing Limited on October 5, 2006 and that before purchasing the plots, the two conducted an official search at the Lands Commission which revealed that the plots indeed belonged to Lands and Housing Limited.

He stated that Alhaji Alidu put up structures up to lintel levels on the two plots to save them from encroachment but Kalmoni later organized some people to demolish the buildings and quickly put up a house on the plot belonging to Irene Ponu.

Explaining further, the prosecutor alleged that Kalmoni was in the habit of terrorizing residents in the area and even marked more houses for demolition while he contributed to sell plots of land he had encroached upon for $5,000.

The prosecutor said at the appropriate time, he would lead evidence to show to the court indentures, search reports and documents and receipts obtained from the land title registry on the two plots of land.

By Mary Anane