Court sentences robber to 30 years imprisonment

A member of a robbery gang that attacked a Nigerian construction worker, has been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in hard labour by a Kumasi Circuit Court.

Kofi Adjei, 19, and three other accomplices, now on the run, attacked Henry Okoye, the victim, with knives, seizing his cellular phone and cash on November 23, at about 2300 hours.

Adjei denied the charge of robbery.

Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Otoo-Boison, a State Attorney, told the Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey that the complainant, Okoye, works with the Azibik Construction Limited in Kumasi.

The prosecution said the convict, a native of Berekum in the Brong-Ahafo Region, lives in Kumasi but has no fixed place of abode.

Mr Ottoo-Boioson said the complainant had closed from work and decided to go to the Kejetia Lorry Terminal to catch a commercial bus to Ejisu, where he resides.

Okoye, tired from the day’s work, sat on a table as he waited, and fell asleep, and he was rudely awoken by Adjei and his colleagues, who ordered that he surrendered everything on him.

The complainant resisted and they opened a deep cut on his forehead with a knife to weaken his resistance.

The prosecution said the armed robbers forcibly took his Techno cellular phone valued GH¢100.00 and cash of GH¢18.00.

Okoye would not completely give up, despite the profuse bleeding and kept shouting for help and that attracted some sympathizers including a policeman, who chased the robbers and succeeded in arresting Adjei.

Mr Ottoo-Boioson said the three others, escaped and a locally manufactured pistol, five cartridges, a blood-stained knife, the complainant’s phone and two wrist watches were found in a bag that Adjei was carrying.

The prosecution said that the items had been stolen from other victims during that night’s operation by the gang.