22-year-old jailed 10 years for stealing mobile phones

A 22-year-old unemployed who robbed two persons of their mobile phones at Bishop School in Bubuashie, Accra has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Emmanuel Blezu charged with robbery pleaded guilty and was convicted accordingly.

Blezu told the court in Fante that “It is true I collected the two mobile phones. I however gave the female complainant her Nokia Phone because she mentioned my name when I snatched it. My accomplice however took the other techno phone away.”

Handing the sentence, the court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh said, he considered the accused person’s plea for mitigation, the retrieval of the one of the phone and how he readily admitted his guilt after spending four days in Police cells.

The court noted that though Blezu, a first offender was modest in his operation he could be “a potential dangerous person.” and therefore handed down the minimum sentence of 10 years.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kwabena Adu told the court that the complainants, Isaac Obuobi Paintsil and Esther Nana Yeboah are friends residing at Kaneshie and Bubuashie respectively.

According to Chief Inspector Adu, Blezu resides at Abossey Okai and on February 12, this year, at about 10:30pm, the complainants were sitting on some stones conversing when Blezu and another, now at large, attacked them with a knife and took their mobile phones.

The Prosecutor said after the act, Blezu and his accomplice fled. The complainant however raised alarm and Blezu who is known in the area was seen fleeing from the complainant’s direction and he was grabbed by witnesses around.

Blezu admitted the offence but failed to assist the Police to apprehend his accomplice, saying he did not know his name and where he lives.