The Tarkwa circuit court on Monday sentenced Kwasi Kaya, a mason, to 12 months imprisonment in hard labour for unlawfully escaping from Police custody. He pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided by Mr. Justice Samuel Obeng Diawuo that on May 22 Police Corporal Richard Ackumey, who was stationed at Prestea, was escorting the accused to the Tarkwa Circuit Court in connection with a case concerning the damage of a board which was placed on a taxi.

He said on reaching Kobokrom on the Tarkwa- Bogoso road, the vehicle they were travelling on developed a mechanical fault. Inspector Amponsah said Corporal Ackumey got down from the vehicle and stopped a taxi to convey him and the accused to Tarkwa.

He said Corporal Ackumey asked the accused to alight from the broken down vehicle and board the taxi but the accused pushed him down and attempted to escape. Inspector Amponsah said the accused was, however, arrested with the help of the taxi driver.