Court fines driver and trader for destroying public property

Tuobodom (B/A) Sept. 11 GNA- A Magistrate's Court at Tuobodom in Brong Ahafo on Friday fined Kofi Adjei, a driver, one million cedis for destroying public property.

He will go to prison for six months in hard labour if he fails to pay the fine.

Agyei, driver of a Benz cargo truck pleaded guilty for destroying a barrier and two reflectors valued at 800,000 cedis at Takofiano, property of the Motor Traffic Unit (MTU) of the police and Techiman Municipal Assembly.

The barrier is used by the Assembly for collection of revenue. Adormaah, owner of 100 boxes of tomatoes that Adjei was Conveying, at the time of the incident was also fined one million cedis or in default serve six months in jail. She pleaded guilty. The court expressed regret about the way some people take the law into their hands and cause destruction to state property".

It warned that those who refused to pay revenue to the Assembly, as well as drivers who acted irresponsibly, causing damage to state property would not be spared.

The court ordered that the two million cedis fine if paid, should be given to the Techiman Municipal Assembly.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Comfort A. Nyamesah, said on December 18, last year, the police and the Assembly's revenue officials at the barrier detected that the accused had no receipts covering the tomatoes.

She said Madam Adormaah, was asked to pay 1,000 cedis for each box but she refused.

Inspector Nyamesah said Agyei lost his temper and drove through the barrier and sped off, destroying the barrier and the reflectors. The two accused persons were traced and arrested, the prosecution said.