Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Source: Daily Guide

7 Robbers jailed 270 years

Seven armed robbers have been sentenced to 270 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

The first four persons engaged in car robbery within the Accra metropolis and were yesterday sentenced to a total of 180 years imprisonment by the court presided over by Francis Obiri.

This was after the court found them guilty of robbing a taxi driver, Nathaniel Laryea at gunpoint after they hired his services from Nkrumah Circle to Odokor Terrazzo.

The judge, Francis Obiri, jailed the accused persons, Percy Aboagye alias Nana Kwame, driver; Justice Eduah alias Panin, student; Apor Amoakwa Frederick alias Ato Kwamena, driver’s mate and Emmanuel Sam Mensah, unemployed former police officer to 45 years each.

They were sentenced to 20 years each for conspiracy to commit crime and 25 years each for robbery. All sentences are to run concurrently.

One of the suspects, Yaw Nicholas who went underground after the arrest of his accomplices is being hunted by the police.

The judge noted that the accused persons admitted the offence in their caution statements. He said the prosecution called two witnesses while the accused persons failed to bring any witness.

According to the judge, the first accused person, in his caution statement, admitted that it was Mensah who called them together and suggested they engage in car snatching, as times were hard.