Court remands driver for charging unapproved fare

Kumasi, Nov 4, GNA- A circuit court in Kumasi on Wednesday remanded a 24-year-old driver in prison custody for charging unapproved fare and driving without a licence.

Charles Kofi Oppong pleaded guilty to 15 counts of charging unapproved fares and driving with a licence. He will appear on November 22.

Police Chief Inspector Seth Amofah told the court that at about 1830 hours last Tuesday, Oppong was driving a tro-tro that plies the Roman Hill-Atonsu road picked 14 passengers at the Labour Office for Atonsu.

He said when the accused got to Roman Hill, he charged each of the passengers 1,500 cedis each instead of 800 cedis, which they obliged. Chief Inspector Amofah said when Oppong got to the KBL Junction because he wanted to charge extra, he ordered the passengers to alight claiming that the traffic was heavy and that he could not continue to Atonsu.

The prosecution said this development infuriated the passengers who engaged the driver and his mate in arguments.

Some policemen got to the scene and the passengers told them about the behaviour of the driver and the accused was arrested and after interrogation, the police found that he did not have a licence.