Regional News of Friday, 19 September 2003

Source: GNA

Police corporal in custody for shooting a driver

Cape Coast, Sept 19, GNA- Police Corporal Charles Effah stationed at Jukwa near Cape Coast was on Friday remanded for shooting a driver in the chest when he appeared before a circuit court in Cape Coast. The plea of Effah, who is standing trial for intentionally and unlawfully causing harm to Mr Eric Mensah, the driver, was not taken and he will reappear on September 26.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Hope Azasoo told the court that on August 21, Effah was assigned duty at a checkpoint mounted by the Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District Assembly to collect revenue from drivers who ply between Cape Coast and Twifo-Praso.

Mr Mensah, who was driving a Nissan bus from Jukwa to Cape Coast, was signalled by a revenue collector at the checkpoint to stop but he drove past and stopped at a distance.

The revenue collector confronted Mr Mensah about his behaviour but this did not go down well with him and resulted in a scuffle between the two.

Corporal Effah warned Mr Mensah not to move the vehicle else he will shoot at the tyre but he ignored him and attempted to drive away. The accused, carrying an AK 47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, fired at the tyres of the vehicle but missed and hit Mr Mensah in the chest instead.