I did not take any cocaine - Osei

Accra, June 23, GNA - Thomas Osei, the man who drove into the President's car, on Monday rejected claims by the prosecution that he drove carelessly into the President's car because he was under the influence of cocaine and hence he did not hear the siren of the convoy. He denied ever using cocaine all his life and that the assertion from the prosecution was not true.

Osei said, this during cross-examination by Mr. Edward Agyeman Doudu, Chief State Attorney, at the Fast Track High Court in Accra. Thomas Osei, 51, a businessman, has been charged with five counts of motor traffic offences, use of narcotic drugs and failing to change ownership of the vehicle.

The charges are dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to give way to presidential siren and the use of narcotic drugs. Osei has pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him and is on remand. The President escaped unhurt.

He also refuted claims by the prosecution that he was drunk and hence could not see the signals from the police at the intersection to stop.

Osei said even though he bought two bottles of Gulder beer from the Landing Restaurant, he drank part and as such could not be drunk. He said even though he heard a faint siren in the distance he could not tell whether it was the President's convoy or an ambulance. He said there was no policeman directing traffic at the middle of the Opeibea intersection or any warning signal indicating the approach of the President's convoy as the prosecution would have the court to believe.

He refuted claims by the prosecution that, he placed his hands on his head and was talking to himself after the accident. "I placed my hands on my head not because I have done anything wrong but because I regard the President as my father." The accused further rejected claims from the prosecution that he was speeding and that was why he could not apply his brakes and therefore ran into the President's convoy. The case has been adjourned to July 3, 2008.