Mechanic Apprentice gets 25yrs for robbery

An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced Suleiman Mohammed, an apprentice mechanic to 20 years imprisonment for causing harm and robbery.

Suleiman pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was, however, found guilty after full trial to serve five years for causing harm and 20 years for robbery both to run concurrently.

Prosecuting Chief Superintendent of Police, Duuti Tuakura told the court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri that the complainant in the case is a businesswoman and lives at Sakaman near Dansoman.

He said the complainant took the accused person as an errand boy and asked him to work in her compound and also fixed her car sometimes.

He said the accused person on September 7, this year, at about 2100 hours, sneaked into the bedroom of the complainant, hid himself and waited for an opportune time to strike.

The prosecution said at midnight, when the complainant was fast asleep, the accused person attacked her and hit her with an object resulting in a deep cut.

Chief Superintendent Duuti said after the attack, the accused person asked the complainant to surrender all monies she had or he would kill her.

"Complainant, who was traumatized and helpless, gave the accused person GH¢100.00 but he demanded for more money, “he added.

He said when the money was not forthcoming, the accused person tried to strangle her with a black waist belt.

He said the accused person again covered the complainant’s mouth to prevent her from screaming and at that point, the complainant, who was helpless directed accused person to pick more money from the wardrobe.

When the accused person went to take the money, the complainant managed to escape from the scene and scaled over the wall to a neighbour's house, where she was later rushed to the hospital.

The accused person, after ransacking the room for money also fled and went into hiding.

The complainant later made a report to the police and a medical form was issued to her to attend hospital.

On September 11, this year, the accused was fished out at Avenor and handed over to the police.