I am sorry Mr President
Gilbert Boyefio
23/06/2008
Thomas Osei, the man standing trial for driving his Mercedes Benz car into the Presidential convoy of President Kufuor last year, near the Opeibea House, Accra, Friday showed remorse for the incident.
He made this pronouncement at an Accra Fast Track High Court when he opened his defence in the case. Being led by his counsel, Kwame Akuffo, to give his evidence in- chief, Osei told the court that he was sad when he realized that the car he had crashed into was the President's. He said when he became aware about this, he shouted "oh my Lord."
Osei described President Kufuor as his father who has made him what he is today. He said he met President Kufuor and other big politicians like J H Mensah and Osafo-Maafo, amongst others, whilst he (Osei) was residing in Japan. He stated further that he was a frequent visitor to the President's house and also the Castle, maintaining that he knows the President’s driver and most of his security operatives very well.
Osei said he helped Ghana to get a grant for the construction of the Kasoa-Yamoranza road and that he and his partner, one KT Wilson, are currently the contractors.
According to him, what happened that fateful day was purely an accident because he has no malice against the President, neither did he attempt any suicide. He posited that he is a very responsible person, adding that he had sent people to apologize to the President on his behalf. He told the court that he later apologized to Rev King Joe Osei Kufuor and Emmanuel Osafo Addo, President’s Kufuor’s drivers.
Thomas Osei pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him, while contending that he was not responsible for the accident because there was no warning that the Presidential convoy was passing by, and furthermore, the traffic light on his side of the road was showing green. He denied overtaking two vehicles that were parked in front of him and said .he heard the convoy’s siren very faintly from the Golden Tulip Hotel, and that there was no police officer at the intersection controlling traffic.
He denied being drunk and also taking in cocaine, as was being alleged by the prosecution. He indicated that that morning he had only bought two bottles of beer at the Landing Restaurant where he normally takes his meals. He pointed out that he did not even complete all the two bottles. He challenged the percentage of alcohol that was allegedly found in his blood saying, that was enough to have sent him into coma.
He said it was also not true that he sustained injuries during the accident. He explained that the injuries he sustained were as a result of a slap and kicks he received from the President’s bodyguard, Bediako, at the BNI office.
Osei claimed that it was later that Francis Poku, the then Minister for National Security, came to see him and asked that he be sent to the 37 Military Hospital, where he was x-rayed and given some stitches.
Thomas Osei accused Dr Brako of the BNI and one other policeman of taking his blood sample and breath without his permission. He disclosed that when the police took him to his house for a search, Dr Brako again came there to take his urine sample and left with it. He further accused Isaac Nyarko of the Community Police, Pastor Kufuor and General Constable Frimpong of being coached to give a similar testimony in the case.
The case has been adjourned until June 23 for continuation of cross-examination.
23/06/2008
Thomas Osei, the man standing trial for driving his Mercedes Benz car into the Presidential convoy of President Kufuor last year, near the Opeibea House, Accra, Friday showed remorse for the incident.
He made this pronouncement at an Accra Fast Track High Court when he opened his defence in the case. Being led by his counsel, Kwame Akuffo, to give his evidence in- chief, Osei told the court that he was sad when he realized that the car he had crashed into was the President's. He said when he became aware about this, he shouted "oh my Lord."
Osei described President Kufuor as his father who has made him what he is today. He said he met President Kufuor and other big politicians like J H Mensah and Osafo-Maafo, amongst others, whilst he (Osei) was residing in Japan. He stated further that he was a frequent visitor to the President's house and also the Castle, maintaining that he knows the President’s driver and most of his security operatives very well.
Osei said he helped Ghana to get a grant for the construction of the Kasoa-Yamoranza road and that he and his partner, one KT Wilson, are currently the contractors.
According to him, what happened that fateful day was purely an accident because he has no malice against the President, neither did he attempt any suicide. He posited that he is a very responsible person, adding that he had sent people to apologize to the President on his behalf. He told the court that he later apologized to Rev King Joe Osei Kufuor and Emmanuel Osafo Addo, President’s Kufuor’s drivers.
Thomas Osei pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him, while contending that he was not responsible for the accident because there was no warning that the Presidential convoy was passing by, and furthermore, the traffic light on his side of the road was showing green. He denied overtaking two vehicles that were parked in front of him and said .he heard the convoy’s siren very faintly from the Golden Tulip Hotel, and that there was no police officer at the intersection controlling traffic.
He denied being drunk and also taking in cocaine, as was being alleged by the prosecution. He indicated that that morning he had only bought two bottles of beer at the Landing Restaurant where he normally takes his meals. He pointed out that he did not even complete all the two bottles. He challenged the percentage of alcohol that was allegedly found in his blood saying, that was enough to have sent him into coma.
He said it was also not true that he sustained injuries during the accident. He explained that the injuries he sustained were as a result of a slap and kicks he received from the President’s bodyguard, Bediako, at the BNI office.
Osei claimed that it was later that Francis Poku, the then Minister for National Security, came to see him and asked that he be sent to the 37 Military Hospital, where he was x-rayed and given some stitches.
Thomas Osei accused Dr Brako of the BNI and one other policeman of taking his blood sample and breath without his permission. He disclosed that when the police took him to his house for a search, Dr Brako again came there to take his urine sample and left with it. He further accused Isaac Nyarko of the Community Police, Pastor Kufuor and General Constable Frimpong of being coached to give a similar testimony in the case.
The case has been adjourned until June 23 for continuation of cross-examination.
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