Mechanic jailed 60 years for robbery

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday sentenced a mechanic, Kwasi Badu, who conspired with two others to rob one Helen Yeboah of her two mobile phones valued at GH? 900 and a cash of GH?1, 400, to 60 years imprisonment for robbery.

The accused pleaded guilty to the offence.

However, two of his accomplices Godfred Obeng Darko and Nii Solomon Lamptey, who were charged for conspiracy, robbery and possession of firearms pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded into prison custody to re-appear on October 25, 2012.

Two other accomplices Emmanuel Hammond alias Dead body and one Kwasi Ato are at large.

The Prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick A. Morkeh said on December 13, 2011, the accused persons Kwasi Badu, Godfred Obeng Darko, Emmanuel Hammond and one Ato, went on a robbery mission on the Odorkor Terrazzo road.

He said in the course of sharing their booty, a misunderstanding ensued between Darko and Hammond, leading to Darko shooting Hammond in the neck and chest.

He said the Police had a tipoff that the accused persons were hiding at a village called Buduatta in the Central Region and dispatched a team of Policemen to arrest the accused persons but they managed to escape through a window.

DSP Morkeh said on July 1, 2012, Darko and Nii Solomon Lamptey were arrested from their hideout at Buduatta. A search in Darko’s room revealed a locally manufactured pistol and four cartridges.

He said Darko in his caution statement admitted the offence and mentioned Hammond, Ato and Badu as his accomplices.

He said Darko also revealed that he and his accomplices had been robbing people in Accra, Central Region, Volta Region, Tema and Takoradi.

DSP Morkeh also said Darko mentioned one Obour as the person who gave him the locally manufactured pistol but failed to lead the Police to arrest the said Obour.

On October 7, 2012 Kwasi Badu was also arrested from his hideout and charged with the offence.