Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 23 November 2004

Source: GNA

Driver gets 10 million cedi bail for careless driving

Sekondi Nov. 23, GNA - A District Magistrate's Court at Sekondi on Tuesday granted a 10 million cedi bail to Francis Ahorlu, a commercial driver for knocking down a 54-year-old blind man with his vehicle at Kwesimintsim, near Takoradi.

Ahorlu pleaded not guilty to two counts of careless driving and negligently causing harm and is to re-appear on December 16. Police Sergeant Philip Obeng told the court that on January 24 this year, Ebenezer Appiah Kanlong, the blind man attended a morning mass at the Kwesimintsim Roman Catholic Church.

He said when the mass ended at about 07.00 hours, Kanlong led by his guide John Coffie headed for home.

Sergeant Obeng said when they got to a spot near a traffic light they stopped and Kanlong raised his white cane to indicate he was blind. He said an on-coming Nissan pick up stopped for Kanlong and his guide to cross the road and while doing so the accused who was driving from Takoradi to Agona-Nkwanta with passengers on his vehicle overtook the pick up.

Sergeant Obeng said the guide on sensing danger run away leaving Kanlong in the middle of the road and the accused person's vehicle knocked him down.

He said Kanlong sustained injuries and was rushed to the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital where he was admitted for sometime.