Three robbers jailed 36 years

Three men who embarked on a robbery operation but missed their target were yesterday sentenced to a total of 36 years’ imprisonment by the Accra Circuit Court.

Kingsford Nketia and Emmanuel Aggrey were found guilty on the charge of conspiracy to commit crime and were subsequently given a 10-year sentence each.

Paul Amoah, the third convict, described by the court as someone who played an instrumental role in the botched robbery, was slapped with a 15-year jail term for the same charge and one year for possessing firearm without authority. The two sentences are to run concurrently.

“There is no doubt that they acted and conspired to rob their intended target,’’ the court said.

The three men, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, went to Kasoa to rob a mobile money credit sales outlet but unfortunately for them the shop had been closed. They were apprehended while on their way to carry out a second attack. 

Discharge

 The court, presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, acquitted the three men on a third charge of preparation to commit robbery.

The presiding judge, in acquitting them, said the act had passed the preparation stage.

“The evidence shows that the issue was beyond preparation because they had set out but missed their target because the shop was closed,’’ he said.

Mitigation

Counsel for the three men, Mr George Asumaney, pleaded with the court for leniency and prayed the court to consider the fact that they were first-time offenders.

“They have learnt their lesson and from their demeanour, they are remorseful,’’ he said.

The court, therefore, slapped the three men with the minimum sentence, stating that they had been in custody for more than a year.

Facts

The police patrol team arrested Nketia, Aggrey and Amoah on April 26, 2015 at Kasoa following a tip-off that they were armed and were embarking on a robbery expedition.

According to the prosecution, the police found two locally manufactured pistols and two live cartridges in the taxi they were travelling in.

“During interrogation, Amoah claimed ownership of one of the guns and stated that Nketia and Aggrey came with the taxi and picked him at Gomoa Feteh Kakraba to rob a mobile money sales point at Kasoa and that they did not meet their victim and were, therefore, on their way to their second attack,’’ the prosecution said.