Accra, Sept. 15, GNA - An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday jailed a mechanic for selling a locally manufactured pistol to raise money for his children’s school fees.

The accused, Joseph Kofi Ansong, pleaded guilty to possessing firearms without authority and convicted on his own plea.

He was fined 80 penalty units about GH¢960 or in default serve two-and-a-half year jail term.

The Prosecutor, Police Inspector Margret Awuni Ayidana said on September 7, this year, the Rapid Response Unit of Greater Accra Regional Police Command had a tip-off that someone was offering a locally manufactured pistol for sale at Ablekuma, a suburb of Accra.

She said Police personnel from the Command led by Police Inspector Tweneboah were detailed to Ablekuma, and at a spot near the football park, saw the accused holding a black polythene bag conversing with a witness in the case.

Inspector Ayidana said Ansong was arrested with the polythene bag containing the pistol and brought to the Command.

She said Ansong during interrogation admitted that the pistol belonged to him and was given to him by one Kofi of Obogu in the Ashanti Region now deceased.

Inspector Ayidana said Ansong told the Police that he was in financial difficulty and decided to sell the pistol to pay his children’s school fees.