Accra, July 5, GNA – A 27-year-old farmer who stole Toyota Vits Taxi valued GHS30,000.00, an Infinix Hot 10 mobile phone and a cash sum of GHS450.00 has been convicted by an Accra Circuit Court.
Stephen Akakpo, charged with conspiracy to commit crime and robbery, pleaded guilty to the charges.
He was convicted on his own plea and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour.
Chief Inspector Benson Benneh, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah that the complainant was a taxi driver and a resident of Adjei Kojo.
He said the convict was a farmer and resided at Adidome Klanomadi near Dzodze in the Volta Region whilst his accomplices namely Michelle, Joshua, and Moses a.k.a ‘Mozaa’ now at large, were residents of Ashaiman, Klagon and Dzodze in the Volta Region, respectively.
Chief Inspector Benneh said on June 29, 2022, at about 2100 hours, the complainant was working with an ash and yellow Toyota Vitz taxi at Ashaiman lorry station when Akakpo, now convict, and two of his accomplices signaled him to stop and they asked him to take them to Emef Junction, Lashibi.
The prosecution said the convict sat at the front seat, while Michelle sat at the back seat behind the driver and Joshua sat behind the convict.
Chief Inspector Benneh said on reaching Emef Junction, the convict, and his accomplices, attacked the complainant whilst the car was in motion.
The prosecution said in the ensuing melee, Michelle who was armed with an electrical cable, tied the complainant’s neck against the headrest of the driver’s seat whilst the convict smeared substance suspected to be containing chloroform in the face of the complainant.
Chief Inspector Benneh said the complainant suddenly became unconscious, and the car came to a halt.
He said the three pulled the complainant from the car containing his Infinix Hot 10 mobile phone value GHc 850.00 and an amont of GHc 45000 and dumped him in a bush at the roadside around Emef Junction and drove off.
Chief Inspector Benneh said the next day, at about 0330 hours, the complainant became conscious but felt very dizzy and could not stand on his feet, hence, sat at the roadside helpless.
The prosecution told the court that a passerby saw the complainant and assisted him to report the case at the Klagon Police Station.
Chief Inspector Benneh said the complainant who appeared very weak with swollen rope mark on his neck was rushed to the Ashaiman Polyclinic where he was admitted for treatment and later discharged.
The prosecution said the tracking device installed in the taxi was activated and the car traced to Dekpor, a village near Dzodze and the engine seized.
He said the convict and his accomplices started pushing the car through the village.
The prosecution said the police proceeded and on seeing the police approaching, they fled the scene, but the convict left his jacket and slippers in the car.
Chief Inspector Benneh said residents who saw the convict and his accomplices pushing the car, assisted the police and he was arrested in his house, but his accomplices managed to escape.
The prosecution said the convict together with the stolen car was brought to Klagon Police Station, where he admitted the offence in his caution statement, and mentioned Michelle, Joshua, and Moses and his accomplices.
The Court ordered that the vehicle be released to the owner and adjourned the case to July 28 for the accomplices to be brought before it.
GNA