Abel Dzidotor, a 41-year-old truck driver who abandoned his vehicle on the Tema-Mpakadan rail lines causing a train accident has been sentenced to six months in jail by the Juapong Circuit Court.
This was after he pleaded guilt to three out of four charges namely – careless and inconsiderate driving, unauthorized stopping and causing harm.
He was convicted on his own plea.
The court presided over by His Honour Prosper Deu-Love Gormashie in sentencing, said, the court took into consideration the fact that the convict was married with three children.
The court also said, his guilty plea at the first instance did not also waste the time of the court.
For the first count of – careless and inconsiderate driving, he was sentenced to 100 penalty units equivalent to GHc1,200.
The Court said, he should serve 20 months, in default.
For the second count – unauthorized stopping, he was sentenced to a fine of 20 penalty units which is equivalent to GHc240.
In default five months imprisonment.
For causing unlawful damage, which is the third Count, the Court sentenced him to six months imprisonment in hard labour.
The sentences the court said are to run concurrently, meaning, the convict will serve the highest custodial sentence of six months.
He will also pay a fine of GHc1,200 in addition to the custodial sentence.
The convict who was not represented by counsel, however, pleaded not guilty to the fourth count of failing to produce a driver’s license.
The case has been adjourned to May 9, 2024.
*Brief facts*
According to Detective Chief Inspector Abel Anane, the prosecutor in the case, the complainants, Engineer Dr. Divine Olitey and Kwabena Bonsu, are both consultants of Ghana Railways Authority residing in Tema.
They reported that the accused person, 41-year-old Dzidotor Abel, was the driver in charge of a Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018-20.
The Prosecutor said, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, between 0900 and 1300 hours, the complainants, together with their Polish counterparts, embarked on a site acceptance test of the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) 001 from Tema to Mpakadan.
He told tue Court that, during the testing of the train, upon reaching Abortia, a suburb of Juapong, the train collided with the aforementioned unmanned truck, which was stuck across the railway line at an unapproved area.
He said, the accused abandoned the truck without due care to other road users.
Detective Abel said, the truck sustained irreparable damage, while the train suffered some degree of damage.
The prosecutor stated that the accused driver went into hiding at Tagadzi, where he was arrested and arraigned before the court.
Source: Kasapafmonline.comKojo Ansah