The Eastern Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) Chief Superintendent Stephen Ahiatafu has commended the Koforidua Circuit Court” B” Judge for jailing a stubborn taxi driver in Koforidua who drove off a police officer hanging on his car bonnet.
The Koforidua Circuit court “B” Presided by Her Honour Mercy Addei Kotei on Thursday convicted 37-year-old taxi driver, Daniel Ofori, to two years imprisonment.
The driver was additionally banned five years from driving.
The Prosecutor Inspector Gershon Defiamakpor narrated to the court that, on February 28, 2020, the driver who was wanted for committing a road traffic offense was seen driving a Toyota Corolla Taxi cab with registration number GW 7484-14 from Koforidua Township towards Adweso.
A Community Protection Assistance on duty at the Gallaway traffic light saw him and drew the attention of two MTTD officers- Sergeant Asante Peperah and Corporal Ofei Konadu who stopped the driver and ordered him to park, however, the driver refused rather tried to knock down the police officers and run away.
Sergeant Asante Peperah jumped onto the bonnet of the taxi for safety however the driver drove him off with speed to about 300 meters away until another car ahead of him crossed his car before he stopped.
He was arrested and charged with dangerous driving and resisting arrest but was later granted bail after he pleaded not guilty.
Various evidence submitted by the Prosecution including a video of the incident during the trial implicated the driver which the court found him guilty.
He was sentenced to 24 months and 6 months respectively on each count to be run concurrently. In addition, his driver’s license was also withdrawn for five years.
Speaking to the mybrytfmonline.com after the sentence, the Regional MTTD Commander was thankful to the judge he wished the driver would have been handed a harsher sentence to serve as a deterrent.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
