Tailor jailed 47 years for hotel robbery

Richard Amponsah, a 24-year old tailor, has been jailed 47 years by a circuit court in Kumasi for robbery.

The convict, who together with one other person attacked a hotel at Asokwa in Kumasi and robbed seven visitors lodging there of their cash, digital cameras, laptop computers and other items totaling about GH¢65,000.00, pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and robbery.

The accomplice, Godwin Dotse, is on the run.

A Senior State Attorney, Madam Afia Serwaah Asare Botwe, told the court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey that the victims were in Kumasi for a business trip and decided to lodge at a hotel at Asokwa.

The prosecution said on October 24, 2011, at about 0200 hours, the victims were attacked in their rooms by the convict and his fugitive colleague at gun point.

Madam Asare said the criminals made away with cash, cellular phones, laptop computers, digital cameras and other valuables belonging to the visitors, and inflicted cutlass wounds on those who attempted to resist their action.

She said this was after they had overpowered the security man on duty and tied him with a rope.

Madam Asare said a report was made to the police and Amponsah was arrested following a tip off.

She told the court that some of the items and live cartridge, cutter and two huge mallet hammers were retrieved from Amponsah’s room during a search.

Madam Asare told the court that the convict in a caution statement, denied taking part in the robbery and said Dotse and another man, whose identity he claimed he did not know, as those who committed the crime.

The prosecution said Amponsah claimed that Dotse and the man came to share the booty in his room and he (Amponsah) was rewarded GH¢1,500.00 and the other items.**