Policeman convicted, fined Gh¢600 for traffic offence

General Sergeant Ebenezer Akrofi, the policeman, who ran his unregistered motorcycle into the Nissan Micra saloon vehicle belonging to New Times Corporation (NTC), on March 14, 2019, was yesterday convicted to a fine of GH¢600.00 by the La District Motor Court.

Gen Sgt Akrofi, who was convicted on his own plea of guilty by the court presided by Mrs Juliet Osei-Duedu, will in default serve six months in prison.

The motor traffic offence led to the alleged assault of Malik Sullemana, a court reporter, Raissa Sambou, gender and human rights reporter, Mr Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, Assistant Senior Editor, all journalists of the Ghanaian Times.

The policeman earlier on April 3, this year, pleaded not guilty to all six charges levelled against him, including careless and inconsiderate riding, use of motor cycle without licence and use of motorcycle without roadworthy certificate.

Others were the use of unregistered motorcycle, use of motorcycle without insurance policy and failing to stop.

At proceedings yesterday, Gen Sgt Akrofi, whose lawyer could not show up, pleaded the court to tamper justice with mercy, explaining that he had been interdicted by the Ghana Police Service, that he is married with three children, and the fact that the family was expecting the fourth child.  

Mrs Osei-Duedu explained to Akrofi, 36 that his plea of not guilty when he was arraigned, meant that the charges preferred against him by the prosecution were false.

Police Inspector Paul Osei Adjei, prosecuting, told the court that on March 14, this year, Akrofi was riding the unregistered Scooter from Accra Regional headquarters towards Accra High Court.

He said on reaching a section of the road, in-front of the Accra Technical University near the Ghana Publishing Traffic Light, all vehicles including the one with registration No. GT 7015-16, being driven by a staff of NTC stopped because the light had indicated red.

Insp.  Adjei said the accused, who was riding in-between the vehicles, rode carelessly and grazed the offside portion of the Nissan Micra saloon car, with registration No. GT 7015-16, causing damage to the offside view mirror, front bumper and nearside headlamp buttons of the car and sped off.

The court heard that the accused was chased by Xornam Jiagge, a rider and arrested at the Kinbu traffic light.

The prosecutor told the court that Gen Sgt Akrofi presented the Scooter to the police as the accident motorcycle, but upon interrogation, the accused said, he found the number plate in the bag of the motorcycle, and fixed it on.

Insp.  Adjei said a letter was written to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), where it was found out that the number plate belonged to Royal Motors Limited and not Kymco Scooter motorcycle.

The court heard that the accused presented a Kymco Scooter motorcycle with registration No. M-18 ER 723, as the motorcycle that was involved in the accident, but investigations revealed that the number belongs to Royal Motors Ghana Limited.

On April 3, Gen Sgt Akrofi pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him and he was granted GH¢6,000 bail with a surety.

His counsel was Charles Ofori, who held brief for Nkrabea Effah-Dartey.

BY MALIK SULLEMANA