Three jailed 50 years for robbery

Accra, March 16, GNA - Two persons who broke into the home of an architect and robbed him of personal belongings at gun point were on Tuesda= y sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each by an Accra Circuit Court. Benjamin Danso, a trader and Aaron Kusi Boakye, an auto mechanic were found guilty for conspiracy and robbery. An accomplice Kwame Mpiani, a 19-year-old student, would serve 10 year= s imprisonment. The court was told that during the robbery, Mpiani was not armed and two witnesses attested to that. Their sentences are to take effect from April 10, 2009. Prosecuting, Mrs. Rita A. Doku, Assistant State Attorney, said the complainant, Mr. Victor Randolf, lived in Osu, Accra.

She said at dawn on November 1, 2008, Mr. Randolf and his family were awakened by an unusual noise at their door only to realise that three unidentified armed men with pump action gun and a locally manufactured pistol had entered their room.

The prosecution said they attacked the complainant, his family and demanded that they surrendered all their monies and jewellery. Mrs. Doku said they could not honour the request and after a thorough search, took away two digital cameras, two wrist watches, four mobile phones, a DSTV decoder and a lap top computer all valued at GH¢9,000. She said the complainant reported the matter to the Police and sometim= e in April 2009, while watching television in the evening, saw the accused persons among others undergoing an identification parade at the Nima Police for possessing firearms and ammunitions. Mrs. Doku said the complainant and his wife identified the accused persons and followed up to the Nima Police station to identify them and after investigations, charged with the offences.