Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 5 March 2009

Source: GNA

Three armed robbers jailed 80 years

Kumasi, March 5, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Adjei Frimpong on Thursday sentenced Sadat Mohammed 25, to 40 years imprisonment in hard labour for robbery.

Two other accomplices, Rashid Nuhu 22 and Abdulai Adamu 23, alias Awudu, both convict prisoners serving a 50 and 60-year-jail term respectively, for robbery, were in addition sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each.

They pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to rob and robbery. Another accomplice Kwame Appiah, was however, acquitted and discharged, while Maayi also known as "Burger" is on the run. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Wilfred K. Salia, told the court that the accused persons were part of an armed robbery gang based in Accra, who robbed Mr Abdul Mumin, Managing Director of K. Ofori Iron Rods and Cement Company at Kwamo near Kumasi, of GH¢41,751 on May 25, last year.

He said earlier they had snatched a taxi cab at gun point for the robbery.

The prosecution said barely a month after the robbery, Adamu was engaged in another robbery but luck eluded him and was arrested by the police in Kumasi.

Police Chief Inspector Salia said during interrogation Adamu confessed being part of the gang that snatched the taxi cab and robbed Mr Mumin of his money.

He said Adamu mentioned Mohammed, Nuhu, Maayi and Appiah as his accomplices. Meanwhile, the court has ordered that weapons seized from them should be given to the police.