Driver jailed 25 years for car snatching

A 30-year-old driver who snatched a taxi at gun point at Nungua was on Tuesday sentenced to 25-years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

This was after the court had found Mohammed Abubakari guilty on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery at end of the one month trial.

Two of his accomplices namely one Musah and Latif are said to be on the run.

Convicting him, the Trial Judge Mr Justice Francis Obiri noted that the convict and his accomplices nearly killed the complainant, Mr Joseph Inkoom when Musah one of the accomplices held his neck while Abubakari pointed a gun at him to move out of the car.

Complainant in open court told the Judge that due to the conduct of the convict and his accomplices, on the day of the incident he eased and urinated on himself.

Due to that, the Trial Judge said Abubakari should be given a deterrent sentence adding that he should be kept away from law abiding citizens.

He ordered that the vehicle GE 6627-14 which was snatched at gun point be given to Mr Samuel Oduro, owner of the vehicle.

Abubakari who was without a lawyer, prayed the court to deal leniently with him as he has a wife and children, which he was taking care of them.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Adu explained that the complainant Mr Inkoom resides at Nungua. Abubakari lives at Kokomba market in Accra.

Chief Inspector Adu said, on June 14, at about 01:30 hours, Abubakari and his accomplices hired the services of Mr Inkoom who was then driving a Nissan Almera with registration number GE 6627-14 from Abrefi Sport to Mandela all in Nungua.

On reaching, a spot at Nungua SDA School, the complainant was asked to stop and he obliged.

Prosecution said Musah, now at large who was sitting at the back seat held the complainant’s neck forcing him to stop the car.

According to the prosecutor, Abubakari who was sitting at the front seat, pointed a gun at him and asked him to surrender everything he had on him.

The convict and his accomplice succeeded in collecting one IPod valued at GH?1,200.00, a Nokia Mobile Phone worth GH?40.00 and cash of GH?470.00.

Chief Inspector Adu said Abubakari drove the car to Amanfrom near Weija where the taxi was handed over to a customer for sale.

At about 11:00 hours same day, the convict went to collect his money from the buyer and he was nabbed by the Police.