Two brothers, Emmanuel Ghartey, 25, a chainsaw operator, and Bernard Ghartey, 23, a commercial tricycle rider, have been jailed for taking the battery of a truck involved in a fatal accident at Agona Kwaman.
In an interview with Crime Check Foundation (CCF), the siblings explained that they had initially been part of a group of young men mobilised from the community to assist at the accident scene. The truck driver, unfortunately, died.
Three days later, the brothers returned to the scene and removed the vehicle’s battery, believing the truck had been abandoned as scrap. According to them, the battery was already damaged.
Community elders, acting on a tip-off, instructed volunteers to keep an eye on the pair after hearing rumours about their intentions. The Gharteys also heard they were being monitored, so they abandoned the battery and returned home. The elders nevertheless reported the matter to the police.
During interrogation, the brothers admitted to removing the battery. Even though the truck’s owner reportedly appealed for them to be pardoned, they were arrested and charged. They were later sentenced to six months in prison after failing to pay fines of ¢1,500 each.
After serving one month and eleven days, Crime Check Foundation, with support from a donor group, the Ghana Unity Club, settled the fines and secured their release.
Taking anything from an accident vehicle without proper authorisation is classified as theft under Ghanaian law.
Editor’s Note:
The speed and strictness with which this case was handled is striking, especially when compared to how sluggish and forgiving the system becomes when dealing with individuals who plunder state resources. How can a nation progress when justice shows such uneven weight?
By paqmediagh/Peter Quao Adattor
