Galamsey operator jailed 15 years for robbery

The Takoradi Circuit Court on Thursday sentenced Abdulai Tambulla to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for robbery.

Kojo Chikurra who was jointly charged with him was acquitted and discharged.

They both pleaded not guilty.

Chief Inspector Theophilius Agbamordzi, said Tambulla and Chikurra are galamsey operators at Kutukrom.

He said at about 12.30 a.m. on August 20, 2011, three armed men broke into the room of Eric Sonful, a farmer at Gwira Bibiani, while he and his wife were asleep.

Chief Inspector Agbamordzi said the gunmen ordered Sonful at gun point to surrender any money he had in the room and Sonful handed over an amount of GH?4,200 to the gunmen.

He said the gunmen made away with the money as soon as it was handed over to then but Sonful recognized Tambulla.

Chief Inspector Agbamordzi said on August 28, Tambulla was spotted in the company of Chikurra at Kutukrom and were arrested by the inhabitants of Gwira Bibiani.

He said when a search was conducted in the room of Tambulla, one unserviceable locally manufactured pistol, one heavy duty battery and a car tape were found but nothing was found in the room of Chikurra.

Chief Inspector Agbamordzi said the inhabitants handed over Tambulla and Chikurra over to the Axim Police and they were later transferred to the Western Regional Criminal Investigation Department for further investigations.**