Asamankese (E/R), June 20, GNA - A driver, Ernest Afful, has been granted 30 million cedi bail by the Asamankese Circuit Court for unlawfully and negligently causing the death of nine persons.

The court, presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah demanded a surety to be justified or a surety without justification but with a cash deposit of 10 million cedis in court. Afful pleaded not guilty and he would re-appear in court on June 23.

Police Chief Inspector Osei Owusu prosecuting, said on July 12, 2004, Afful was driving a Mitsubishi bus with registration number GR 8974 N from Densuso to Suhum in the Eastern Region. On reaching a section of the road near Obretema, a vehicle from the opposite direction, driven by Richard Ampofo, now deceased, swerved to the opposite lane to avoid a vehicle, which branched off the road without adequate signals.

Ampofo, therefore, lost control of the steering, resulting the vehicle falling on the opposite lane, adding that on seeing the accident vehicle on his lane, Afful applied the brake but because he was speeding, his bus ran into the roof of the vehicle which had just fallen on his lane.

Nine of the occupants on board vehicle number AS 5873 U including its driver, Ampofo died as a result, four on the spot and five on arrival at the Suhum Government Hospital.