Two jailed 45 years for robbery
The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, yesterday sentenced two persons to a total of 45 years in prison with hard labour for engaging in robbery.
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They are Renold Blay, alias Richard Blay, 26, and Kwasi Twumasi Ankrah, alias Kwasi Boutique.
A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of a third accomplice, Abu Mohammed, alias Alhaji, 32, who is on the run.
Blay was sentenced to 20 years for conspiracy to rob and 20 years for robbery, while Ankrah was sentenced to 20 years for conspiracy to rob and 25 years for robbery.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery but after the trial the court found them guilty and sentenced them accordingly.
Mr Obiri said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
He said robbery was becoming rampant in the country, hence the need for the youth to be adequately educated on its dangers and consequences.
He said criminals should not be pampered in the society and urged the public to volunteer information to the police that would lead to the arrest of criminals.
Facts of the case
Prosecuting, Chief Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka said at 9 p.m. on July 7, 2013, Blay and Ankrah chartered a Nissan taxi from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Tantra Hill in Accra.
On reaching Tantra Hill, the suspects pulled knives on the driver and snatched the taxi.
Upon a tip off, the Adabraka Police arrested Blay on November 15, 2013.
During investigations, Blay confessed to the offence that he and his accomplice had driven the cab that same night to Asamankese, where they had offered it for sale at GHc2,000.
On November 19, 2013, the police, accompanied by Blay, proceeded to Asamankese where the buyer, Mohammed, lived.