Driver fined for carrying chain-sawn lumber

Cape Coast, Nov. 28, GNA - A 32-year-old driver, Kofi Prah, from Cape Coast, who transported 107 pieces of chainsaw lumber without a conveyance certificate, was on Monday fined 25,820,000 cedis by a circuit court in Cape Coast.

Prah, who pleaded guilty, would go to jail for years in default. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Augustine Amonoo told the court presided over by Mr Beresford Acquah that on November 2, this year, the Central Regional Forestry task force saw Prah driving a KIA truck with registration number CR 4202 C along the Twifo-Praso-Cape Coast road.

He said the team found 31 pieces of Ofram and 76 pieces of Esia chain sawn lumber, valued at 1,900,000 cedis and 2,582,000 cedis respectively, during a search on the vehicle.

Chief Inspector Amonoo said Prah, who claimed ownership but could not produce permit covering the items, was arrested. Passing sentence, Mr Beresford Acquah, the presiding judge, deplored the behaviour of illegal chainsaw operators and said their activities were destroying the country's forest and warned that he would in future impose higher sentences to serve as a deterrent.