Six Lotto operators granted 40 million cedi bail each

Tema, May 22, GNA - Six Lotto operators who were arrested in Tema for using fake Golden Souvenir booklets to stake the National Weekly Lotto were on Monday granted forty million cedis bail each with one surety by the Tema Circuit Court 'B'. They are Peter Asiamah, Kuffour Asare, Kwaku Larbi, Owusu Ansah, Kofi Amponsah and Wofa Yaw.

The accused persons who pleaded not guilty to the charge of using fake Lotto booklets are to reappear on June 13, 2006. Police Chief Inspector Edith Nutakor told the court presided over by Mr Nicholas Abodakpi that on May 9 this year, in an operation to flash out fake Lotto operators, the six accused persons and Kwabena Appaih-Etrueh, who did not appear in court, were arrested for using fake Golden Souvenir booklets to stake the National Weekly Lotto at Community Two and Five.

She said the accused persons when cautioned indicated that the booklets were given to them by an agent whose name they could not mention, stating that they were ignorant of the offence. In another case, a 35-year-old tanker driver has been sentenced to a day's imprisonment and a fine of four million cedis. In default he will serve an additional one year in prison.

Atsu Zogli, the driver in charge of DAF fuel tanker with registration number GT 4596 B pleaded guilty to five charges of failing to stop, dangerous driving, resisting arrest, carrying excessive passengers and driving without a license.

The court heard that on May 22, this year at about 0645 hours the Ashaiman police patrol team was on their usual rounds when Zogli was spotted carrying five passengers on the fuel tanker. Police Chief Inspector Daniel Matey said accused accelerated and nearly hit a police officer with the vehicle when he was signalled to stop causing the police to chase him.

He said when he finally stopped, he was invited to the Police Station but he refused and struggled with the police personnel until he was over powered.

In the cause of the struggle, Chief Inspector Matey said Zogli told the police he refused to stop because he had not stolen anything stating that the police could do what ever they liked since he has nothing to say during questioning at the Police Station. 22 May 06