Akim Swedru, May 29, GNA - Stephen Ankomah, a 20-year-old driver has been fined one million cedis by the Akim Swedru Circuit Court for knocking down a pedestrian.

The convict who pleaded not guilty to two counts of careless driving and negligently causing harm, will go to prison for six months if he fails to pay the fine.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector John Padmore Arthur told the court presided over by Mr Edward Kwame Bosompem Apenkwa that the convict, was a driver who operated from Akim Oda to Akim Aboabo in the Birim South District.

He said on March 21, this year, while the victim, Mr Francis Kwabena Enninsco, 28, was crossing the road at the Akim Oda Estate Junction, a vehicle the convict was driving knocked him down. The victim was rushed to the Akim Oda Government Hospital where he was later referred to St Joseph's Hospital in Koforidua, for further treatment.

The Prosecution said unfortunately for Mr Enninsco, he could not recover fully from the accident as he became crippled as a result of the severe injury he sustained. Mr Apenkwa ordered that 800,000 cedis out of the fine, if paid, be given to the victim to defray some of his medical expenses. The Judge further advised the victim to sue the convict, his car owner as well as the insurance partners to enable him to defray his medical expenses.