A dismissed military officer, a former police officer and a civilian have been sentenced to serve a total of 180 years after being found guilty of robbing a nurse at Ashaley-Botwe, Accra.
Judge Evelyn Asamoah, presiding over Circuit Court 10, in Accra, sentenced each of the convicts to 30 years for both conspiracy and robbery.
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve a maximum of 30 years in prison.
Addressing the court before the sentence, the police prosecution officer, ASP Emmanuel Haligah, prayed the presiding judge to impose appropriate custodial sentence on the convicts, taking into account the aggravating factors.
He again urged the court to take note of the seriousness of the offense, the premeditated nature of the criminal plans, and the torture endured by the complainant.
Also looking at the rising prevalence of similar cases in society, the court should go for retributive punishment to serve as a deterrent for security personnel who are meant to protect citizens and not commit crimes.
Imprisoning these individuals will effectively reduce the number of such offenders on our streets.
He told the court that the complainant in the case, Shirley Asafo Agyei, is a nurse living in Ashaley-Botwe, while Michael Baffour (A1) is a driver residing at Ngleshie Amanfrom, near Kasoa.
Isaac Amejor (A2) is a driver living at Kasoa High Tension. Saddick Muntakilu is unemployed and resides at Asamankese, Eastern Region, along with one other individual who is at large.
The court heard that on March 2, 2023 the complainant withdrew GH¢40,700.00 from the Adjiriganor branch of Ghana Commercial Bank for a housing project.
She boarded a commercial vehicle heading to Ashaley-Botwe School Junction and upon reaching a section of the road, near Ability Microfinance, A1, A2, A3 and one other individual, with A2 in police uniform, blocked the vehicle.
They forcibly dragged the complainant out and into their taxi, then drove her to a location near the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
The complainant screamed for help but they threatened to kill her if she doesn’t keep quiet. They handcuffed, tasered and collected her bag containing the sum of GH¢40,700 00 and IPhone 11 Promax valued at GH¢9,500.00.
After robbing the complainant, the convicts abandoned her in the bush, whilst she was still in a handcuff and left.
The complainant managed to reach the roadside, where some coconut sellers helped her get to the Legon Police Station, where she filed an initial report and had her handcuffs removed.
On March 14, 2023, the complainant petitioned the Director General of the CID for assistance. Subsequently, on March 26, 2023, A1, A2, and A3 were arrested at their hideout along the Tema Motorway stretch.
A search of the convicts revealed a military uniform belonging to Michael and a police uniform belonging to Isaac. Investigations revealed that Michael is a dismissed military officer, Isaac is a former police officer, and A3 is unemployed.
On April 14, 2023, an identification parade was held at the CID headquarters, where the complainant identified A1, A2 and A3 as the individuals who robbed her.
In their caution statement, made in the presence of an independent witness, the accused admitted to robbing the complainant and sharing the stolen items.
Following the investigation, the accused were charged and brought before this court.
