Driver jailed for assaulting police officer

A Sunyani circuit court has sentenced a 26-year-old driver, Emmanuel Arthur, to one year imprisonment for assaulting a police officer at Fiapre near Sunyani.

Arthur pleaded guilty to a charge of assault and offensive conduct and was sentenced to serve a one year term in addition to paying a fine of GH¢300.00. In default, he would again serve six months in prison.

Convict pleaded not guilty to the third count of causing unlawful damage.

Police Chief Inspector Alex Ofosu, prosecutor, told the court, presided over by Mr Ekow Mensah, that the complainants are policemen stationed at the Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in Sunyani whilst the accused is a taxi driver who resided at Berekum.

He said on July 17, 2013, the complainants were on their routine road checks at Fiapre and stopped an Opel Astra Taxi cab with registration number GR 6611-11 which was being driven by Arthur.

Chief Inspector Ofosu said an inspection conducted on Arthur’s vehicle revealed that he was not having fire extinguisher and mud wings.

He said Arthur was, therefore, arrested and issued with a chit to report at the Sunyani Municipal Police Station whilst his driving license was retained by the police.

The prosecutor said Arthur became offended and went away and returned with an egg to invoke a curse on the police officers on duty by breaking the egg on the ground.

Prosecutor said in attempt to arrest Arthur for his action, he slapped one of the officers, Lance Corporal Padmore Adu Twum of the Regional MTTU and fled.

Chief Inspector Ofosu said the police chased and arrested him adding that, in the process, the sun glasses of one of the officers, valued at GH¢ 30.00, got damaged.

The prosecutor said Arthur admitted the offence at the police station and was, therefore, charged with it.