Driver fined six million cedis for causing harm

Tema, July 12, GNA - Tema Circuit Court 'A' has imposed a fine of six million cedis on a 32 year-old driver who knocked down a 12-year old school boy, injuring him.

Emmanuel Asare pleaded guilty to the five counts of careless driving, negligently causing harm, driving without licence, failing to report an accident case to the police and failing to send an accident vehicle to the police for testing. He would, in default, serve a three-year jail term.

The Court ordered that four million cedis of the fine should be paid to the victim, Wisdom Akekpo.

Police Chief Inspector Sarah Aggrey Acquah told the Court that at about 1845 hours on December 11, 2001, the accused was driving a saloon car from Tema Community One to Community Nine.

A few metres after Community Eight and Community 10 traffic light Emmanuel overtook three vehicles and in the process knocked down Wisdom. Inspector Acquah said the victim was rushed to the Tema General Hospital unconscious and was later transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where he remained for three weeks.

She said the accused failed to report the incident to the police and rather went into hiding. The accused also jumped Police enquiry bail until on May 21, 2004, when he was arrested upon a tip off.