Custom Officer fined for causing harm

The Half-Assini Magistrate Court has fined a customs officer stationed at the Jewi Wharf border Gh?360.00 for knocking down a pupil who attempted to cross the road to school.

Christopher Darlington, 30, who pleaded guilty, will go to prison for 30 days if he fails to pay the fine.

The court presided over by Mr Abdul Majid Illiasu, awarded a 200-Ghana-Cedid compensation to the victim, and ordered the accused person to pay it before paying the fine.

Darlington was charged on two counts of careless & inconsiderate driving and negligently causing harm.

Prosecuting, Police Corporal Richard Amoah, said the complainant is the mother of Anthony Teye Kwaw, a victim in the case, both at Tikobo Number One, while the accused person is a customs officer.

He said at about 0900 hours on Monday, August 3, Darlington headed towards Samenye security check point in his private car.

The prosecution said the customs officer on reaching Psalms Preparatory School at Tikobo Number One, knocked down the six-year old class three pupil who was crossing the road to school.

He said Darlington rushed the victim who sustained various degrees of injuries to the Eikwe Catholic Hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Passing the sentence, the magistrate said the accused person never wasted the court's time, and also bore part of the victim's cost of treatment, and therefore he was dealing leniently with him.