The Assin Fosu District court has jailed a 32-year-old driver for nine months for falsely accusing a police officer and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), of stockpiling weapons to cause mayhem in the 2024 polls.
The convict, Ebenezer Asare, pleaded guilty to the charge of publication of false news and begged for leniency from the trial judge, Major Illiasu Iddrisu.
However, he pleaded not guilty to count two which was stealing.
Prosecuting Sergeant Matilda Boabeng mentioned the national 1st Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party as the complainant.
The Prosecution said on Sunday, February 5, 2023 the convict went to the residence of Mr. Danquah Smith Buttey in Assin Fosu, with what he claimed to be a very crucial information for him.
The convict identified himself as a driver of a KIA Truck who usually travels from Budumburam near Kasoa to Assin-Dompim in the Fosu Municipality of the Central Region.
The prosecution stated that the convict said some NDC bigwigs have contracted him to transport firearms and ammunition from Budumburam to Assin-Dompim ahead of the 2024 elections.
According to the prosecution, the convict added that the Crime Officer of the newly created Central North Regional Command, Superintendent Daniel Kwabena Darkoh, had been assigned to escort the NDC team with the alleged weapons to its appointed destination.
In a supposed confirmation of the claims, the prosecution said the convict gave the crime officer’s telephone number to the complainant.
The prosecution said, after providing the said information, the convict demanded an amount of GH200.00 from the complainant for having volunteered such vital information which the complainant rightly obliged to the request.
The prosecution said the convict remotely promised to keep updating the complainant about the movement of the team transporting the weapons and regularly demanded monies for volunteering the information.
The convict however ceased communication with the complainant.
But on Thursday, February 9, 2023, he was spotted at Assin Nyankomase and was arrested subsequently.
The prosecution further said investigations revealed that the convict had gone to the Central North Regional Commander, DCOP Teye Cudjoe, with the same mode of operation that he had information on purported drug syndicates and demanded money to assist in apprehending the suspects.
The prosecution said the convict admitted that his action was to solicit money from unsuspecting people, including the complainant.
The convict behaved abnormally in the witness box, and while on remand in police custody, smeared his body with faecal matter and also drank flushed toilet water.
His unusual behaviour compelled the prosecutor, Sergeant Osaah Boabeng to pray for an order from the court to send him to the Psychiatric Hospital for an extensive medical examination which the court granted the request.
After the medical examination, the doctor’s report indicated that the convict is sound in mind and fit for trial.
The convict admitted that his action was meant to deceive the police and the court that he is mad in order to be freed since he cannot afford the fine and also does not have anybody.