Court sentences armed robber to life imprisonment

Sekondi, March 3, -GNA - A Sekondi high court on Friday sentenced Kwasi Yafo a 40-year-old farmer to life imprisonment for armed robbery and causing harm.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty before the court.

Presenting the facts, Mrs. Frances Mullen Ansah, a State Attorney told the court, presided over by Justice Clement J. Honyenugah that on April 2, 2006 around 0115 hours, the complainant, Pastor Stephen Amoah of the Victory Bible Church, was asleep at his West Tanokrom residence when he was awakened by a shadowy figure lingering over him.

The prosecutor said the complainant woke up and saw that Yafo was wielding a gun and a cutlass in his room and Pastor Amoah questioned the convict what he wanted in his room.

The accused according to the prosecution became angry and when Pastor Amoah attempted to hold Yafo, he fired a shot that hit pastor's forehead.

Mrs. Ansah said Pastor Amoah started shouting thief, thief and as he did so, managed to leave the scene. The robber, after collecting two mobile phones from the victims room while also shouting thief, thief managed to outwit neighbours who were searching for him. She said Pastor Amoah reported the incident to the Police who issued him with a medical form and the bullet was later removed from his forehead and used as an exhibit.

Yafo was arrested on July 7, 2006 at Agona Nkwanta together with others who had robbed some homes at Anaji estates.

Yafo alledged that on the day of the incident, he was involved in galamsey operations at Mpohor but when his master was questioned, he said the convict since October 2005, had ceased to be in his employment. Pastor Amoah at the Regional Police Command identified the convict in an identification parade on August 24, 2006.

The prosecution told the court that soon after completing a nine-year jail term Yafo engaged in a series of robberies upon his release. He is presently facing a 60-year imprisonment imposed by the same court on February 2, 2007 for his involvement in another armed robbery cases.

Passing sentence, Justice Honyenugah said the activities of armed robbers were traumatizing several inhabitants within the Sekondi-Takoradi and all efforts must be made to give them deterrent sentences.