Two phone snatchers jailed 20 years

Frank Oziwomu, aka Junior, a trader was on Tuesday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for snatching a mobile phone from a lady.

Oziwomu, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and robbery, sent the audience at the court laughing when he told the court that his wife was pregnant so he should be dealt with leniently.

The trial judge, Mr Justice Francis Obiri told him not to worry as his pregnant wife would be cared for. According to the court, Oziwomu was a first offender and he did not use any offensive weapon.

The court however acquitted and discharged Solomon Adjei, a labourer. Adjei had told the court that he was conversing with a female friend when he saw his friend one Desmond Ayigbe running, so he also took to his heels.

Sentences of Oziwomu and Adjei were deferred after they were remanded into custody by the court earlier on.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Adu said on June 24, this year, at about 23:30 hours, the complainant (name withheld) went to the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to pick a vehicle to Osu.

The prosecution said the complainant, who is a bar attendant, received a call on her Sumsung galaxy mobile phone, valued at Ghc 400 .00 and when she was receiving the call, the accused persons attacked and beat her up.

Prosecution said the accused persons in the process, snatched her mobile phone and absconded.

However, with the help of some sympathisers, the accused persons were arrested after a chase and handed over to the Police.

During Police interrogation, Oziwomu in his caution statement said, it was one Edmund now at large, who snatched the phone from the complainant and passed it on to him.

Adjei, on his part said, he was conversing with a female friend when he saw his friend one Desmond Ayigbe running, so he also took to his heels.

In another development, the court sentenced Dickson Yaw Dankwah to 10 years imprisonment for robbing another lady at new Achimota of her mobile phone after pulling out a knife on her.

He pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery.

Dankwah’s accomplices one Joe is said to be at large.