Court fines man for possessing unregistered pistol

A 35-year-old man, Tsiatey Yakah, has been fined GH¢500 by the Dangme East District Magistrate Court for possessing a pistol without authority during the Asafotufiam Festival of the people of the Ada Traditional Area.

The presiding magistrate, Mr Daniel Dorkpoh, before passing judgement, expressed concern over the proliferation of small arms in the country.

Presenting the facts of the case to the court, Inspector George Kyei of the Big Ada Police Station said about 12.30p.m. on August 2, 2008, Tsiatey, a carpenter of Ada but residing at Ashaiman near Tema, was arrested at the durbar grounds of the Asafotufiam Festival at Big Ada for possessing a locally manufactured pistol.

Inspector Kyei said the police saw Tsiatey struggling with some people at the durbar grounds and when they asked they were told that he had a weapon. Tsiatey was therefore arrested, and when he was searched, a pistol and a talisman suspected were found in his pocket.

He said a complaint was lodged at the Big Ada Police Station by the police team, led by Corporal Ebenezer Ofori-Atta.

During investigations, Tsiatey said he had found the pistol at the durbar grounds but he was not able to tell the police where he had picked it.