Tema, Sept. 08, GNA -- A carpenter and a driver who smuggled a number of Odum boards from Hohoe, in the Volta Region, to Accra and were arrested at the Ashaiman police barrier have each been fined 9.4 million cedis by the Tema Circuit Court 'B'.
Nernard Adansa, and Wisdom Sarling Settor, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing timber products without valid documents, and will go to prison for 12 months in default. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Robert Aganiba, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr Stephen Teye that on August 18, this year, a 33-seater Benz bus, pulled up at the Ashaiman police barrier from Afienya direction.
DSP Aganiba said the driver, Settor, failed to stop for a routine check, and the police blew whistle for those men at the Accra end to stop him.
The prosecution said upon a search on the vehicle, 27 pieces of Odum board valued at 405,000 cedis, and Adansa claimed ownership. DSP Aganiba said the driver also carried 27 pieces of Odum boards valued at 405,000 cedis, at the carrier without any valid documents. The accused persons were arrested and sent to the Regional Crime Office where after investigations, both were charged with the offence. The presiding judge, Mr Teye, ordered that the boards be handed over to the Tema Municipal Forestry Officer.