Porter jailed 18 months for illegal possession of firearm

A Kumasi Circuit Court has sentenced a porter found with a locally manufactured pistol to 18 months imprisonment.

Sumaila Bukari, 20, was charged with possessing firearm without authority and pleaded not guilty.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Doris Amewu told the court presided over by Justice D.W.P. Amedior, that the convict was spotted hovering around a broken down bus belonging to the Ghana Railways Company Limited in Kumasi.

One of the mechanics of the company became suspicious and confronted him.

Bukari’s explanation that he was going for his radio in the bus did not convince him. It rather heightened his suspicion and so he decided to hide somewhere and closely monitor his movements.

The prosecution said the mechanic saw the convict removed the weapon from the disabled bus.

With assistance from other co-workers, Bukari was arrested and handed over to the Railways Police.

He told the police during interrogation that he was sent to pick the gun by one “Jailman” but could not lead the Police to the said person.**