Two ex-convicts jailed 100 years

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday sentenced two ex-convicts, Gideon Fianko, 23, a driver and Prince Owusu Ansah, 22, a labourer, to a total of 100 years for robbery.

The two are to serve a 50-year jail term each for snatching a Toyota Corolla taxi valued at GHC18, 000 from its driver at knife point at Adenta Rowi.

The two were charged with conspiracy to commit crime and robbery but they pleaded guilty to robbery and were convicted on that charged.

The prosecution has however dropped the charged on conspiracy against the accused persons.

The two ex-convicts were released from prison on January 25, 2013 after serving about six months for stealing and related offences.

Before sentencing them, Mr Francis Obiri, the presiding judge asked the two accused persons and prosecution whether they had something to say to the court.

The two accused persons pleaded with the court to have mercy on them.

Prince Owusu Ansah also told the court that he had lost his father and the mother is a poor widow in the village and would be affected greatly if they receive a harsh judgment.

The Prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Reynolds Agyemang prayed the court to give the two persons harsh punishment to serve as deterrent to others.

He said the two did not deserve any mercy from the court because they were released from prison only about a month ago and should have learnt their lessons from that experience.

He said Gideon Fianko and Prince Owusu Ansah had now moved from stealing car batteries and gas cylinders to snatching cars from people.

Mr Francis Obiri, before passing the sentence stated that “mercy is for those who deserve mercy. You stole a car battery and a gas cylinder and now you have graduated to robbing cars”.

He said the two did not deserve any mercy for their actions and that the sentence was to serve as a check to others.

He said Ghana had reached a stage where the social workers should come out with a research why a lot of the youth were getting into robbery and other social vices.

The Prosecutor, DSP Reynolds Agyemang said the complainant in the case is the driver of the Toyota Corolla taxi with registration Number GB 6026-12, while the two accused persons are Gideon Fianko, a driver and Prince Owusu Ansah, a labourer.

He said on February 18, 2013 at about 12:40 am at the Madina Zongo Junction the two accused persons approached the complainant and asked him to take them to the Adenta barrier for GHC5.00.

He said on reaching the barrier, the accused persons asked the driver to take them to a popular area at Adenta called Rowi.

DSP Agyemang said immediately after turning towards that direction, Prince Owusu Ansah, who was sitting behind the complainant (driver), pulled a knife and threatened to stab the driver if he did not stop.

He said Gideon Fianko, who was then sitting beside the driver in the front seat pulled out the complainant from the car and drove the vehicle towards Koforidua.

He said luck however eluded them and they were intercepted by the Police at a check point at Tinkong and they were arrested and handed over to the Adenta Police.

DSP Agyemang said the accused persons in their caution statement admitted the offence and were accordingly charged with the offence.