The traffic offence case against the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Abdul-Mumin Issah, has been adjourned to 22 March 2022.
The adjournment is to allow the prosecution to file their witness statements and all other documents it intends to rely on for the trial at the Takoradi Circuit Court.
Mr Issah is said to have committed a motor traffic offence and verbally assaulted the officer who was conducting a lawful duty.
The MCE has since been charged with three counts — assault of a public officer, offensive conduct conducive to breaches of peace and disturbing the peace in a public place contrary to Sections 205, 207 and 298, respectively, of the Criminal and Other Offences Act of 1960, Act 29.
Additionally, he faces a charge of dangerous driving contrary to Section 1 of Act 683 of 2004 as amended by Act 761 of 2008.
He has pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
The prosecution team were directed to file their disclosures and serve same on the defence team, but they failed to do so, hence the adjournment.
Counsel for the accused, Samuel Agbota, who was not happy that the prosecution had not been able to file their defence after a month, expressed his disappointment.
“Since the case is a misdemeanour, the longer it takes, the longer it affects the human rights of the accused,” he said.
He, thus, prayed the court to ensure the prosecution files the disclosures and serves them before the next hearing.
According to the police, the MCE drove a Toyota Land-cruiser with registration number GE 5615-20 dangerously and carelessly while approaching a police snap checkpoint at the Kwasimintsim Cemetery on Wednesday, 2 February 2022.
When one of the police officers on duty attempted to stop him, he was heard raining insults on the said officer, who is an inspector.
He vowed to have the said officer transferred to another region. But he failed to carry out his threat.
He was rather slapped with a suspension letter from President Nana Akufo-Addo shortly after his encounter with the police officer.