Farmer in possession of local pistol fined

A Circuit court at Fiapre near Sunyani has sentenced a 32-year-old farmer, Kwabena Afrani, to a fine of GH¢280 for possessing a locally manufactured pistol without a permit. Afrani pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing fire arms without lawful authority and was sentenced accordingly. He would serve nine months imprisonment in hard labour if he fails to pay the fine. The court presided over by Mr John Owusu, ordered that the pistol be seized and destroyed by the police. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Alex Fosu told the court that Afrani and the complainant in the case were friends and lived at Atronie, near Sunyani. He said at about 0800 hours on January 6, this year, Afrani went to the complainant with the pistol loaded with ammunition for sale, but the latter declined saying he was not interested. The convict attempted to remove the ammunition from the gun, but it accidentally went off sending neighbours running for dear life. The people then assisted the complainant to arrest Afrani and handed him over to the police. The prosecutor said the convict pleaded for leniency because the gun had been with him for many years and he had not committed any offence with it.