Driver’s mate gets 12 years imprisonment over GHC22

A 19-year old driver’s mate Safianu Yahaya, will spend the next 12 years behind bars for stealing GH¢22 and a mobile phone from a trader

A Kumasi Circuit Court presided over Mrs. Mary Nsenkyire handed the jail term that has been described as harsh to the teenager after he was found guilty of the offence.

Prior to passing the judgment, she disclosed that the age of the accused was taken into consideration as well as the fact he was a first time offender.

According to the facts of the case as presented to the court by Police Chief Inspector Felix Akowuah, the victim is a trader and resides in Bosore/ Kenyase, whilst the convict lived in Abirem/Kenyase.

On September 11, at about 20:00 hours, the woman was returning from work and was being trailed by the suspect but walked quickly in a desperate bid to escape.

The convict however closed up on her, caught up with her, threw her to the ground, beat her up and forcibly seized the victim’s phone and cash.

Even after taking his booty, he drew a knife and slash the nose of his victim who was incorporative leaving her to bleed profusely unattended to.

While the victim was being rushed to the hospital by her husband, she spotted Yahaya near the crime scene, raised an alarm and people in the neighbourhood managed to arrest him.

He was nearly lynched but for the timely intervention of the Manhyia police who rescued him unconscious and rushed him to the hospital.

Upon recovery, he was arraigned before court on charges of robbery and using offensive weapons but pleaded guilty and was sentenced on his own plea.