Prosecution drops one charge against Osei

Accra, May 7, GNA - The State on Wednesday withdrew one out of seven charges levelled against Thomas Osei, the driver who drove into the Presidential convoy on November 14, last year.

The count, failing to change ownership of vehicle, was withdrawn without any reasons assigned.

Mr. Edward Agyeman Duodu, Principal State Attorney, withdrew the charge when the case was called at the Fast Track High Court. The court, presided over by Mr. Justice E.K. Ayebi, a Court of Appeal Judge, obliged and declared, "At the request of the counsel for the Republic count five is withdrawn."

Osei, 51, a businessman, has been charged with the use of narcotic drugs and failing to change ownership of the vehicle, dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to give way to Presidential siren.

The President escaped unhurt.

Osei has pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him and he is in police custody.

Police Sergeant Christian Koda of the Central Motor Transport Traffic Unit (MTTU), answering questions under-cross examination by Mr. Kwame Boafo Akuffo, counsel for Osei, admitted that he was not present when an alcometer test was conducted on Osei by Lance Corporal Eric Asare.

He maintained that after the test was conducted, entries were made in the case docket.

According to the witness, alcometer testing could be done by the Police or at Hospital adding that anytime they were conducted at the hospital, they were witnessed by a medical doctor. He said it was important for the police to put some results of the test on the spot in a notepad and record them in the case docket, adding that, it was important to record such data.

Sergeant Koda said he saw three vehicles at the accident scene. He further told the court that after taking statements from some witnesses including some personnel of the Community Police and Policemen, he sought an expert's opinion at the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Witness also mentioned the President's driver as being among those he interviewed. Sergeant Koda said the President's driver told him that he was driving between 80 and 100 kilometres per hour at the time of the accident. When asked why he did not seek expert opinion on the speed at which the president's driver was driving, witness said he settled on the president's driver because he was driving the vehicle. Witness, however, said he could not tell the speed at which Osei was driving. Hearing continues on Thursday, May 15.