Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Source: GNA

Convicted drivers to pay GH¢ 24,000 in fines

A Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mr William Boampong, has sentenced 48 drivers arrested over the misuse of the Dealer Verification (DV) car number plates to fines totaling GH¢24,000.00.

This was after they had all pleaded guilty to the offence. However, two other drivers, Osei Akoto and Anthony Osei Mintah, denied any wrongdoing and were granted bail in the sum of GH¢80,000 each with a surety. They would make their next court appearance on August 13.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kofi Boakye, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, told the court that the drivers were arrested at the weekend during a special operation mounted in the Kumasi Metropolis.

He said the Police had detected that some criminals have been using unregistered cars bearing such number plates to commit violent crimes.

He said persistent warning to the offenders to stop the abuse had gone unheeded and that necessitated the mass arrest.