Driver's Mate jailed 15 years for robbery

An Accra Circuit Court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri on Tuesday handed a 15- year jail term to Gideon Martey Boye, a driver’s mate for conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.

Gideon, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, is to serve 15 years for conspiracy and 15 years for robbery. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

Gideon was said to have conspired with one Seth Adjei Okine a fisherman, and another Joshua now at large, robbed Madam Christiana Quaye of her I-Phone valued at GH? 200.00; Madam Belinda Korkor Odai of her BLU phone worth GH? 150.00; and Madam Sarah Boye of her Samsung phone worth GH? 200.00.

Seth his accomplice was, however, granted bail in the sum of GH? 10,000.00 with two sureties, one of whom must be his parent because he is a juvenile.

The Court also ordered that the case be sent to the juvenile court for the Martey-Boye to be sentenced accordingly.

Chief Superintendent Duuti Tuaruka told the Court that the complainant is a trader and lives at Teshie just as Gideon and Seth.

He said on August 26, 2014, at about 0300 hours the complainant and witnesses in the case were among a number of people observing the festival of the people of Teshie, when suddenly the convict and his accomplices rushed on them.

Chief Superintendent Tuaruka said Joshua now at large pulled a knife to threaten the complainants and managed to collect all the phones.

However the complainants started shouting for help and this attracted the witnesses to the scene.

He told the Court that Joshua sensing danger quickly gave the phones to Seth and then took to his heels.

Seth was arrested and escorted to the police station where the complainants made their statement, while his two accomplices managed to escape.

The prosecution said in the course of interrogation, Seth mentioned Gideon and quickly the witnesses contacted some people on their cell phones to look for Gideon whom they believed was still around.

He was arrested and escorted to the police station with the remaining two phones which was retrieved from his pocket.

Frantic efforts were made to apprehend Joshua but to no avail.