Entertainment of Friday, 19 March 2004

Source: GNA

Artist fined for possessing invalid insurance certificate

Accra, March 19, GNA - Collins Agyeman Sarpong also known as "Cobra" a popular artiste on "Dada Boat", a soap opera on Ghana Television, was on Friday, fined 2.5 million cedis by an Accra Circuit Court for driving without a valid insurance cover and assaulting two Policemen.

The actor was also charged for failing to stop when signalled by the Police; resisting arrest and failing to produce a driving licence as well as validating it.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Michael Quarm told the court that Sarpong, was driving of an Opel Astra on the Graphic Road on March 18, around 1350 hours without a valid insurance cover. His insurance cover expired in October 2003.

Chief Inspector Quarm said Sarpong was stopped at the Graphic Road Traffic Light, but he failed to obey the Police hand signal and drove off.

He said Sarpong was caught in a traffic jam and when two Policemen on duty attempted to sit in his car, he deliberately drove off with the two Policemen Kesse Akrasi and James Owusu hanging dangerously on the bonnet of the car.

He said two other Policemen joined their colleagues before they were able to arrest Sarpong at the Railway Crossing on the Graphic Road. During interrogation he failed to produce his driving licence. Inspector Quarm said Akrasi and Owusu sustained injuries in the process and had since been treated and discharged from the hospital.