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Attorney-General takes over
President's accident case
Accra, Nov. 30, Ghanadot/GNA - The Office of the
Attorney-General has taken over the case of Thomas Osei, the
driver who hit President John Agyekum Kufuor's car on the
Liberation Link, near Opeibea House, on November 14.
Mr Edward Agyeman Duodu, a Principal State Attorney, who
announced this to the Motor Court in Accra, said: "We
received the case docket from the Police yesterday and were
studying it."
Mr Duodu said the Attorney-General was of the view that
certain aspects of the case should be investigated and
investigations had not been completed.
"We are therefore applying to the court to give us two weeks
to enable us to complete investigations and prefer the
appropriate charges against the accused person. At this
instance we ask that accused remain in custody," he added.
Osei, 51, who is being held for dangerous driving,
negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of
alcohol and failing to give way to the presidential convoy,
looked refreshed when he made his second appearance in
court.
Osei's plea is yet to be taken by the court.
Mr Kwame Boafo Akuffo, who represented Osei, said he was
aware of how the case was being conducted with various
security agencies adding; "I am surprised that it was only
yesterday that the Attorney-General received the case
docket."
Mr Akuffo prayed the court to intervene and expedite
investigations considering the number of days his client had
spent in custody.
According to him, his client had been supportive and
cooperative and his continuous incarceration would lead to
the infringement of his liberty.
"I am concerned about the liberty of my client and I want to
see that work is done and justice is done to all."
Mr Akuffo said he was disputing the facts of the case and
that the accident happened in the full glare of the public,
adding that this was not the first time the presidential
convoy was involved in an accident.
He objected to the two weeks adjournment sought by the
prosecution and prayed the court for seven days.
The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Diwuoh granted the
application of the prosecution, remanded the accused into
police custody and adjourned the case to December 14.
Soon after the hearing the police whisked him into a waiting
police car amidst heavy security.
Before the police car took off, his relatives and
sympathisers, who were present waved at Osei assuring him of
seeing him again.
The prosecutor Chief Inspector Dora Seiwaah at the last
sitting said at about 1030 hours on November 14, Osei, who
was driving a Mercedes Benz SE 500 saloon car with
registration number GT 2989 W was in the inner lane along
the South Liberation Link from AFGO towards 37th Military
Hospital.
When he arrived at the Opeibea traffic light, he ignored the
siren of the presidential convoy and drove straight into the
rear offside portion of the President's Mercedes Benz 550
saloon car.
The Prosecution said the impact forced the President's
vehicle to spin around and hit a light pole on the central
reserve.
The President's vehicle fell on its right side and landed on
a VW Golf saloon car with registration number GW 8750 K
driven by Pastor Ken Joe Osei Kuffuor, who was driving from
37th Military Hospital.
Chief Inspector Seiwaah said President Kufuor escaped
unhurt.
All the vehicles were damaged and the drivers, who sustained
injuries, were rushed to the 37th Military Hospital. She
said the accused person was also admitted at the same
hospital.
The prosecutor said further investigations revealed that
Osei was driving under the influence of alcohol as when he
was tested with an Alco Sensor it read 0.41 per cent content
of alcohol in his breath instead of the legal limit of 0.08
per cent.
GNA
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