By Joyce Danso
Accra, Nov 22, GNA – An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced Yaw Mensah, a 42-year-old driver, to 15 years’ imprisonment for robbery.
This was after Yaw Mensah, affectionately called Red, was found guilty on the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery at the end of the trial.
Mensah’s accomplice, Yussif Abubakari, was however acquitted and discharged because there was no evidence connecting him to the crime.
One Mohammed, another accomplice, is said to be at large.
Mensah told the court that even God knew in his heart that he did not commit the offence but if the trial judge has found him guilty, he thanked her.
Prosecution said the complainant in the case, Ronald Adomako, is a taxi driver residing at Odorkor.
Prosecution said Mensah, his accomplices are also residents of Agbogbloshie, Accra.
On September 6, 2023, at about 3:40, Mensah engaged the services of the complainant at Kwame Nkrumah Interchange to Sabon Zongo Market.
On reaching Ayigbe Town, Mensah who was sitting in the front passenger seat, pulled out a pistol on the complainant and threatened to shoot him.
The prosecution said out of fear, the complainant stopped the car, and he was attacked violently by Mensah who dragged him out of the vehicle.
The court heard that Mensah took over the vehicle and sped off to Agbogbloshie market and parked it.
Prosecution said thereafter, the accused persons looked for a buyer.
On September 8, 2023, at about 7:30pm, the National Police Intelligence Directorate had information and proceeded to Agbogbloshie and arrested the second accused, Yussif Abubakari and retrieved the exhibit (vehicle) from him.
During interrogation, Abubakari mentioned Mensah and one Mohammed as his accomplices.
Prosecution said Abubakari led the Police to arrest Mensah.
In their caution statements, they admitted the offence and disclosed to the Police that Mensah engaged the services of the complainant to Korle-Bu Traffic Light where Abubakari and Mohammed were waiting at the traffic light.
Immediately they got there, Mensah attacked the complainant and robbed him of his vehicle.
The same day, the Prosecution said the complainant went to Korle-Bu and reported the matter to the police.
The Prosecution said after the accused person’s arrest, the vehicle together with a Police extract form were sent to the Police Regional CID, Accra for further investigations.
The court heard that the Police, together with the accused persons went to the crime scene and they displayed to the Police how they robbed the complainant.
The Prosecution said investigations revealed that the accused persons had committed a series of robberies in Accra.
Again, the prosecution said there were other dockets involving the accused persons and investigations were underway.
GNA