Driver sets New Boozing Record

Mr. Justice Emmanuel Ankamah last week sentenced a cab driver, John Quartey to a one miilion cedi fine, or in default a seven month jail term for drunkeness while driving. A police prosecutor told the court that the suspect's alcohol level recorded by the police at the time of his arrest was 103% instead of the permitted 0.05% for drivers. The prosecutor added that he was sure the level recorded could feature in the Guinness Book of Records.

When the court asked Quartey why he was so drunk while driving a taxi, he only smiled. The incident happened when traffic police stopped the driver for a routine check at Nungua, a suburb of Accra last Wednesday at about 0730hrs GMT. When the cop drew near the driver, the fumes sent the officer stumbling down. When the breathalyzer was fectched to record the level, it recorded 103%.

I think the trial judge was rather too lenient. What do you think?