Tema, Feb. 5, GNA -- A private car owner and driver who told the police that he has failed to insure his Dodge car for the past two years because it is used for private purpose, was on Wednesday fined one million cedis by the Tema circuit court "A".

Anthony Sam Anum, who pleaded guilty on two counts of using uninsured vehicle and failing to send a vehicle to police station will go to prison for six months if he fails to pay the fine.

Chief Inspector Mary Assunta, prosecuting, told the court, presided over by Mr Charles Asiedu that on February 4, 2004, police on motor traffic duties detected that Anum, who was driving a Dodge car with registration number GR 8293 B had not insured his car.

It was detected that his insurance expired on August 26 2002, and when the police pointed the fault to him, Anum pleaded with them to allow him to send his children to St. Paul's Methodist School, which was a few meters away.

Inspector Assunta said when the pupils came out of the vehicle, Anum removed the car key and walked away; telling the police "it is no business for the police to check my insurance when I am not using my car as a commercial vehicle".

The police, therefore towed the car to police station, and after investigations he was charged.

The Tema MTTU Commander directed that the car would only be released to him if he showed a new insurance cover for the vehicle.