By Erica Apeatua Addo
Tarkwa (W/R), Jan 15, GNA – The Tarkwa Circuit Court has sentenced Fatawu Abdellah, an ex-convict, to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for robbing and threatening to stab a student.
Abdellah aged 22, popularly known as ‘Rebel’ denied the offence, but at the end of the full trial he was found guilty and convicted.
Chief Superintendent of Police Alex Odonkor, who led prosecution told the court presided over by Mrs Hathia Ama Manu that the complainant, was a student and lived with her mother at Bogoso, while Abdellah, a small-scale miner lived at Atechem Zongo, all in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.
He said Abdellah was among a group of young men terrorizing hawkers, travelers and even residents of Bogoso at night, and they usually robbed them of their belongings.
On October 23, 2023, at about 10:30 pm, the complainant was playing game on her Infinix Hot 9 mobile phone at the KEK bus terminal in Bogoso, when Abdellah came from behind, and attempted to snatch the phone.
Chief Superintendent Odonkor said the complainant refused to hand over the phone to Abdallah and he struggled with her.
The convict then threatened the complainant with words that “if she continues to resist, he will stab her with a knife” and in the process bit her right thumb and succeeded in taking the phone.
The court heard that the complainant lodged a complaint against Abdellah at the Bogoso police post where she was given police medical form to visit the hospital for treatment and report.
Prosecution said the medical form was endorsed by Dr Anthony Lucky Arthur of Bogoso Government hospital and it was returned to the police.
On November 28, 2023, Abdallah was seen in Bogoso town and was apprehended, but he denied biting the complainant in his investigation caution statement.
The complainant’s Infinix Hot 9 mobile phone was, however, retrieved from Abdallah.
GNA