‘Killer driver’ fined GH¢1,200

A man who "carelessly" knocked and killed a 35-year-old woman with a car at Weija in Accra has been fined GHc1,200 by the Weija Circuit Court.

The convict, Michael Amoako, will serve 12 months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.

Amoako, who showed remorse before the court, pleaded guilty to two counts of careless and inconsiderate driving and negligently causing harm.

He was consequently slapped with the fine to be paid forthwith or spend the next one year in prison.

"I take into consideration the fact that he (Amoako) is a first-time offender and that he pleaded guilty to the charges, thereby not allowing the case to be dragged, at the expense of the court's time," the presiding judge, Mr Bernard Bentil, stated.

Amoako was hauled before the court yesterday for driving carelessly on the Mallam-Kasoa Highway in May last year which resulted in the knockdown of Najat Abdul, the deceased, who was crossing the road.

The deceased, who was subsequently rushed to the Ridge Hospital in Accra, died about two weeks later at the hospital.

Facts

Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Gariba Basomi, said about 12:30 p.m. on May 1, 2018, Amoako was driving a saloon car, with one person on board, on the Kasoa Highway.

He was travelling from Tatop towards Block Factory within the Weija area along the Mallam Junction-Kasoa Highway.

On reaching a section of the road called Choice Second Bus Stop, he, "without due care", knocked down Abdul, who was then crossing the road.

According to the prosecutor, Abdul sustained "serious injuries" and was rushed to the Ridge Hospital on May 1, 2018 but died on May 16, 2019 while on admission.

DSP Basomi told the court that after investigations, a duplicate docket was forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for advice.

He said following the A-G's advice, charges were levelled against the accused, who was subsequently arraigned before the court for prosecution.