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A Twenty-Five-Year-Old Taxi Driver, Ibrahim, Sulley has been arrested by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Eastern Regional Police Command for allegedly assaulting a Community Police Assistant with the MTTD while on duty.

The Driver was put before Court on Monday and fined.

The Prosecutor, Alex Nanfam told the court that on July 23, 2016 at about 9 am, the Eastern regional Police MTTD commander, ACP Ebenezer Larbi while on traffic duty with his men in the new Juaben Municipality arrested the driver for not fastening his seat belt.

The Police subsequently intercepted the Opel Taxi with registration number GS 5336-Z being driven by Sulley.

A community Police Assistant, Joe Tetteh was ordered by the MTTD commander to take the driver to the regional police headquarters for caution statement. However, while on the way, the accused with reckless speed diverted and drove the police officer to the Koforidua Zongo, manhandled the police officer, threw him out of the car and drove away.

According to the prosecutor, the accused was later arrested and charged with dangerous driving, assault and failing to fasten seat belt and put before court.

The driver pleaded guilty and was fined GH360,00 by the Koforidua Circuit Court B, presided over by Abdul-Razak Musah. In default, he is to serve three months imprisonment.

In an interview, the Regional MTTD Commander, ACP Ebenezer Larbi, explained that drivers in the regional capital, in particular, taxi drivers have become hostile t police officers on duty and manhandle some of them. He said three of such incidents have occurred this year.

He cautioned that the MTTD will prosecute any driver who obstructs police officers from carrying out their duties.