By William Yaw Owusu
Saturday December 1, 2007
Thomas Kofi Osei, the 51-year old man who allegedly drove into President J.A. Kufuor's car has been refused bail for the second time by the Motor Court in Accra
The court presided over by Mr. Samuel Diawuo said yesterday that it refused him bail because the police needed time to conduct thorough investigations into the circumstances that led to the accident.
The court had acted on the prosecution's request.
Osei drove into the President's car on November 14 at about 11:30 am, forcing it to overturn. The President was unhurt but his driver, Osafo Addo was treated and discharged at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
When Osei appeared in court yesterday, he had no plaster on his left eye as previously. He was in handcuffs, in the company of armed policemen.
This time around, he had a counsel.
On his first appearance on November 16, Osei was charged provisionally with four counts of dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to give way to the presidential convoy.
His plea was again not taken but the case for the prosecution was made known to the court.
Duodu, a Principal State Attorney who had taken over the case said that the case docket was brought to the A-G's Department for advise only yesterday and the prosecution needed time to study it and prefer the appropriate charges against the accused.
But Kwame Boafo Akuffo, counsel for Osei said he did not understand why his client should continue to remain in detention when Osei had already admitted the offence.
He said once it was President's car which was involved in the accident, the security agencies had everything at their dispossal to conclude investigations before his client appeared in the court yesterday
Presenting the case for the prosecution one more, Chief Inspector Seiwaa who prosecuted the case on the court's first sitting on November 16, said that about 11.30 a.m. on November 14, Osei was driving a Mercedes Benz Saloon Car SE500 with registration number GT 2989W in the inner lane along the South Liberation Link from the direction of AFGO, towards the 37 Military Hospital area in Accra.
"On his arrival at the traffic light intersection at Opeibea House, Osei ignored the presidential siren and drove straight into the near (side) of the President’s Mercedes Benz S500 being driven by Mr. Osafo Addo."
She said the President’s convoy was coming from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange towards the Osu Castle and the President’s car was in the middle lane.
"The impact forced the President’s car to turn round and hit a light pole on the central reservation.
"The President’s car finally fell on the right side and landed on a VW Golf car with registration Number GW 8750X which was in the inner lane from the 37 Military Hospital direction".
The prosecutor said the Golf car was being driven by a pastor, Ken Joe Osei Kuffour.
"All the vehicles were damaged and the drivers sustained injuries and were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital where Mr. Osafo Addo and Pastor Kuffour were treated and discharged.
"The President escaped unhurt," the prosecutor added.
She said investigations revealed later that Osei was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol because when samples of his urine were taken for testing, it contained 0.41 per cent of alcohol.
She said the legal limit allowed for driving is 0.08 per cent.
Osei will appear before again on December 14.
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