Tribunal fines drunken driver 200,000 cedis

Accra (Greater Accra), 16 March '99

A Community Tribunal in Accra on Monday imposed a fine of 200,000 cedis on Isaac Wemegah, 38, for driving under the influence of alcohol and for failing to produce his driving licence. He pleaded guilty to the charges and will go to prison for two months if he does not pay the fine. Police Inspector Reynolds Agyeman told the court presided over by Mrs Ivy Heward-Mills that Wemegah was arrested on March 13 when the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Kojo Thompson roads were turned into one-way. He said Wemegah was found driving in the wrong lane. When a policewoman signalled him to stop he nearly run into her. His alcohol level measured by the alco-meter registered 0.20 which was above the legal limit of 0.08. The court ordered that his driving licence, which he claimed at the time of his arrest was with the Nima Police, should be endorsed. The police said Wemegah produced the licence but said the fine was not as painful as the publicity given to him when he was arrested.