Driver jailed 20 years for car snatching

A Kumasi Circuit Court has sentenced a driver to 20 years in prison with hard labour for robbing two people of their cars.

Mark Okyere Darko pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and robbery.

His two accomplices are at large.

Assistant State Attorney, Mrs Franklina Opoku told the Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey that the first complainant, Alhaji Eliasu Awudu is a trader while the second complainant, Mohammed Salifu is a car dealer, both residing at Buokrom whilst Darko lived at Tafo in Kumasi.

She said on October 8, 2011, at about 2030hours, Awudu, who was driving a Hyundai Elantra, was entering his residence when Darko and his gang attacked him with guns, robbed him of the car, two mobile phones and a cash of 500 cedis and bolted.

Mrs Opoku said the complainant hired a taxi to pursue the robbers who used the stolen car to seize that of Salifu’s unregistered Pontiac Vibe and later abandoned that of Awudu.

She said on November 3, 2011, Salifu spotted Darko at a fitting shop at Dichemso in Kumasi, and after some investigations he was processed and put before the Court.