Uncle and nephew jailed 80 years for robbery

Kumasi, May 6, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Mr Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey, has sentenced two drivers to a total of 80 years imprisonment in hard labour for robbery. Osei Yaw alias "Yaw Broni", 28, and his nephew, Charles Amponsem, alias "Daddy", would each serve a term of 40 years. They were accused of snatching a taxicab at gun point and robbing t= he driver of his cell phone and GH¢68.00.

The convicts denied the offence. Mr Emmanuel L. Otoo-Boison, a state attorney, told the court that O= sei and Amponsem live together at Kotei, whilst the complainant, Kwaku Nyarko=

resides at Ohwim, all suburbs of Kumasi. On March 17, at about 2300 hours, Amponsem asked Nyarko to carry hi= m in his taxicab from Asafo to Kotei and as they got to a spot after Ayedua= se, he told the driver to take a branch off road, which he said leads to his house and he did. The prosecution said given the bad nature of the road the complaina= nt pulled up to check whether it was possible to use it. Osei, who had laid ambush, all of a sudden emerged, pulled a pistol and ordered Nyarko to surrender the ignition key, cell phone and money, which= he did. Amponsem took over the steering wheel and drove away with Osei. Nyarko reported the incident to the police. Mr Otoo-Boison said the two were arrested with the car at Abodwese/Manfo= , near Tepa. They had changed the colour, fixed a new number plate and removed t= he insurance and roadworthy stickers of the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA).