Court jails two for robbery

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday sentenced, Godwin Sampana, unemployed and Kelvin Avio, porter, to a total of 35 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit crime, robbery and causing unlawful damage.

The convicts are to serve 10 years each for conspiracy and 20 years for robbery. Kelvin, will serve an additional five years for causing unlawful damage. All the sentences are to run concurrently.

Prosecuting, Chief Superintendent of Police Duuti Tauraka, told the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, that the complainants in the case were an immigration officer and a pastor.

He said on March 23, the immigration officer was on his way to see a friend at the passport office and whilst walking along the side of the road near the passport office, holding his Samsung note 3 mobile phone, the two convicts on motorbike with registration number M-14-GR appeared on the scene.

The prosecution said the convicts rode the bike close to the complainant and slowed down, then Godwin, who was the pillion rider, violently snatched the phone from the immigration officer and attempted to escape.

The prosecution said the complainant managed to hold him and pushed them to the ground, resulting in the arrest of Godwin, whilst Kelvin managed to ran to the other side of the road and started throwing stones at the complainant,” he added. Chief Superintendent Duuti said in the process, one stone hit the windscreen of an unregistered vehicle belonging to the pastor, damaging it.

He said Godwin was handed over to the Police with the motorbike and on March 25, one Adam Tia came to the Ministries Police station to claim ownership of the motorbike, and was detained to assist in arresting Kelvin.

He said Tia called his brother one Ibrahim Adams to mobilize and arrest Kelvin. Kelvin was later arrested and handed over to the police.