A national security operative Benjamin Awuley Addico at the Tema Port has been sentenced to three years in prison by the Tema Circuit Court A for causing harm to a merchant.
Following a full trial, the court presided over by Agnes Opoku Banie, condemned Addico after finding him guilty.
It also ordered him to pay GHC6,000 to the complainant.
The police prosecutor, George Doe, said the complainant, Jonas Mensah, a Ghanaian businessman domiciled in the United States of America, was in the country for a visit.
On 11 May 2021, Mensah cleared his container at the Tema Port and was on his way to Accra with one of the cleared vehicles when he crossed Addico’s vehicle at the Mankoadze Roundabout in Tema Community One.
Addico followed the complainant’s vehicle and kept flashing his headlight to signal Mr. Mensah to stop, but he did not and drove away.
Doe stated that both vehicles collided near the RANA Motors section of Harbour Road, causing Addico’s front tyre on the driver’s side to blow off.
Mensah lost control and began climbing the sidewalk. His car almost hit the opposing lane.
A fight erupted between the two men, but with the assistance of bystanders, Mensah moved his car back onto the road and drove away, leaving Addico at the scene.
Mensah’s actions enraged Addico, who abandoned his truck and joined a commercial vehicle to pursue him.
When Addico arrived at the highway, approximately 40 metres from the tollbooth, he noticed Mensah’s car.
According to the prosecution, he alighted from the commercial truck, ran to the complainant’s car, yanked him out, and ruthlessly beat him up.
A police patrol team arrived on the scene and transported both men to the Tema Regional Police CID for inquiry, where a medical form was provided to Mensah in order for him to seek medical treatment for a cut on the head.
The complainant was treated and discharged. After further investigation, Addico was charged with the offense and arraigned.
