Driver jailed 17 years over 'Phone robbery'

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Kwabena Boakye a driver to 17 years imprisonment for robbing two persons of their two mobile phones after threatening to kill them.

Kwabena Boakye, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and two counts of robbery.

An accomplice Eric Adabreh a mechanic apprentice who pleaded not guilty to the same charges has been remanded into lawful custody to reappear on May 15.

The court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh has asked the Police to investigate the age of Adabreh who claims to be 15 years.

Meanwhile Juilius Kafui Papah who bought one of the stolen items, had been convicted to a fine of GH¢ 4,800.00.

Prosecuting Chief Superintendent of Police Mr Duuti Tuaruka said the complainants Assumpta Adom Dickens and Madison Caruso are designer and an international volunteer respectively residing at North Kaneshie Last Stop.

Chief Supt. Tuaruka said Boakye and Papah are co-tenants living at Abeka.

On April 22, this year, at about 1130 pm, while the complainants were at a spot near Fadama Night Market, looking for a taxi to go home, Boakye and Adabreh and two others at large who were on two separate motor bikes suddenly appeared and ordered them to surrender their phones else they will kill them.

Prosecution said without any hesitation, the complainants handed over their Iphone 6S and Sumsung Galaxy A3 and the accused persons and their accomplices bolted.

On April 24, this year, the Iphone 6S which had a tracking device led to the arrest of Papah and the phone was retrieved.

During interrogation, Papah told the Police that it was Boakye who gave it to him to decode. Complainants however managed to identify Boakye Adabreh and the Sumsung Galaxy A3. The motorbike used in the operation was also retrieved from Boakye.