Cop and Driver jailed 35 years each for robbery

Accra June 7, GNA - An Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday sentenced a Detective Police Constable Anthony Dzadza, 37, to 35 years' imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy and robbery.

Also in the dock was Richard Nyarko, a 32-year-old driver, who was also sentenced to 35 years on the same charges.

Dzadza and Nyarko robbed two taxi drivers of their cars at gunpoint between Tema Community Eight and Tema Harbour on December 31, in 1997. Gertrude Addo, an accomplice, is however at large.

The convicts, who have been on remand for seven, years were asked by the Court, presided over by Mr Justice George A. Aryeeety to commence their sentence from the day of their conviction.

The case of Prosecution was that on December 31, 1997 Dzadza was stationed at the Tema Regional Police Station while Gertrude was his girlfriend.

Prosecution said Dzadza and his girlfriend boarded a taxicab driven by Mr Kwame Tsega between Tema Community 8 and Community 10. While on board, Dzadza gave Gertrude some money to buy a box of refresh and valium, a tranquilliser.

Gertrude then mixed the drug with the box of refresh. Prosecution said on their way, Dzadza asked Mr Tsega to stop so that he could urinate and immediately the car stopped Gertrude gave the mixture to Mr Tsega.

Unknowingly, Mr Tsega drank the refresh and soon after felt drowsy. Dzadza subjected Mr Tsega to beating and threw him out of the cab and he drove the car to Somanya where he gave the car to a witness to sell. Prosecution further stated that on the same day at about 1930 hours; Dzadza and Nyarko hired another taxicab driven by one Mr Stephen Oko from Nkrumah Circle to Tema.

Nyarko and Dzadza, who asked Mr Oko to use the Tema Harbour road, pulled out a pistol on him after which they snatched his car and proceeded to Somanya and parked the car.

On January 1, 1998 Mr Samuel Tettey Ofei, a witness in case, saw Nyarko replacing the car plate with another and he questioned him. Nyarko asked Mr Ofei to enquire from Dzadza.

Mr Ofei was not satisfied with the answer and he consequently informed the Somanya District Chief Executive who also reported the matter to the Police and they were arrested.