Driver gets 20 years for robbery

An Accra Circuit Court, Presided over by Mr Francis Obiri on Tuesday handed a 20-year jail term to Isaac Boateng, a driver for conspiracy and robbery.

Isaac was said to have conspired with two other persons; Emmanuel and Fred now at large and robbed one Kwabena Bretwum of his Techno mobile phone worth GH?150.00 and an amount of GH?160.00, in March 2013.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was found guilty by the court after full trial and was sentenced to serve 15 years for conspiracy and 20 years for robbery both to run concurrently.

The prosecutor, Chief Superintendent of Police Duuti Tuaruka told the court that the complainant is a Taxi driver residing at Santa Maria while Isaac is also a taxi driver and resides at Gbawe while Emmanuel and Fred reside at New Town.

He said on March 7, 2013, at about 21:30 hours the convict and his accomplices met at Nyamekye Mambo spot and agreed to embark on a robbery expedition.

He said Isaac with his accomplices who were armed with sharp cutlasses concealed in their trousers stopped the complainant who was in charge a Nissan Almera taxi to drive them to North Kaneshie.

The prosecution said on reaching Hotel Adodo area Emmanuel who was sitting in the front seat forcibly held the ignition key of the taxi and put off the engine, but the complainant also quickly pressed the stopper device which was fixed in the car not to allow the robbers to drive it away.

He told the court that Emmanuel and Fred pulled their cutlasses on the complainant and ordered him to surrender all his money and mobile phone.

Chief Superintendent Tuaruka said he gave out the money and his Techno mobile phone to the robbers.

He said Isaac pulled the complainant from the driver’s seat and subjected him to beatings and sat behind the steer to drive the car but it did not start, he tried several times but the car did not start.

Emmanuel pulled a cutlass on the complainant and ordered him to assist Fred to push the car while Isaac starts the engine.

According to the prosecution, during the process the complainant mastered courage and shouted for help so Emmanuel and Fred took to their heels and Isaac sensing danger also left the ignition key in the car and followed his accomplices.

He told the court that the complainant quickly went into the car and started it and chased them, but they bordered another taxi and alerted the driver that the occupants of the taxi chasing them were armed robbers.

He said they got out of that taxi again and started running. The incident attracted some people around who quickly assisted the complainant to chase them with dogs.

Chief Superintendent Tuaruka said Isaac unfortunately entered someone’s house which was walled and he was subsequently trapped, arrested and handed over to the police for investigation.

In his caution statement he admitted the offence and mentioned Emmanuel and Fred as his accomplices.