Driver remanded in prison custody for assault

Cape Coast, Aug. 24, GNA – A twenty-six year old driver was on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by a Cape Coast circuit court for allegedly conspiring to commit crime, assault and causing damage.

Kwesi Badu who pleaded not guilty to all the charges would reappear on Tuesday September 6.

Inspector Christiana Sampong told the court presided over by Mrs Justice Florence Kai Otu that the complainants in the case Ms Rebecca Ashigbui and Mr Charles Adam on November 28th boarded Badu’s taxi cab at Mfantsipim Junction to Pedu.

She said Badu then picked three additional passengers on the way and hence overloading the vehicle.

With this development, the complainants complained of the vehicle being overloaded and this led to an argument among the passengers and in the process, one of the passengers slapped Ms Ashigbui.

Inspector Sampong said on reaching the Adisadel school gate, the three additional passengers that Badu had picked on the way all alighted and forced the complainants out of the vehicle and started beating them.

She said in the process Ms Ashigbui lost GH¢300.00, a wrist watch worth GH¢30.00 and a pair of sandals valued at GH¢40.00.

She said the complainants were rescued by a passer-by and thereafter they asked Badu to send them to their destination at Pedu but he refused and rather drove them towards Kakumdo.

Inspector Sampong said the complainants sensing danger began to struggle with the driver and attempted to switch off the ignition and this angered Badu who stopped the vehicle pulled out the two complainants from the taxi, assaulted them and drove off.

She said Ms Ashigbui managed to send a distress call to the police who rushed to the scene were they met Mr Adzam lying unconscious on the road.

Inspector Sampong said Mr Adzam also lost his Sony Ericsson mobile phone valued GH¢150.00 and damaged his medicated spectacles valued GH¢500.00

She said the police assisted the complainants to the regional hospital where they were treated and later arrested Badu and charged him with the offences.