Sunyani circuit court jails armed-robber 57 years

The Sunyani Circuit Court presided by Mr. Ekow Mensah on Monday sentenced a farmer, Mr. Issahaku Alhassan, aged 33 to 57 years imprisonment for robbery.

The court said Alhassan “a notorious robber” who had been on the Police wanted list for some time now, had been terrorizing the inhabitants of the Nkoranza Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Alhassan had been robbing his unsuspecting victims at gun point of their monies and other properties, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr. Christopher Tawiah, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command, told the Ghana News agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Tuesday.

He said on September 6, 2012 at 23.30 hours, Mr. Yaw Adu, 32, complainant, and his wife Sabina Adutwumwaa, 28, were heading home from their shop in Nkoranza.

ASP Tawiah said at a spot close to the complainants house, Alhassan, who had earlier bought an item from their shop emerged from nowhere, armed with pump action gun and ordered them to hand over their bag, which contained 6 Nokia phones valued at GHC235.00, MTN rechargeable cards costing GHC1,100.00 and a cash of GHC2,000.00 to him.

He said Alhassan hit them with the butt of the gun after trying unsuccessfully to fire the gun.

Luck however eluded Alhassan when shouts by complainants attracted nearby people who disarmed and arrested him, after attempting to bolt with the bag, Mr. Tawiah added

The Police PRO said Alhassan was sent to the Nkoranza Police Station where a search in his hand-bag revealed 13 rounds of live cartridges and a set of Police uniform, which he admitted stealing from the Ejura Police Barracks with the intent to perpetrate his nefarious operations.

Mr. Tawiah said Alhassan was transferred to the Regional Police Headquarters where he was subsequently processed for court on two counts of robbery and stealing that led to his imprisonment.

The Police PRO praised the people of Nkoranza for helping in the arrest of “the hardened criminal” who could have escaped had it not been for their assistance and urged them to continue cooperating with the Police to protect lives and properties in the area.