Gavel
* Asante Bekwai Court sentences tricycle rider to 10 years in prison for robbery
By Hillary Thompson, Accra
Three persons who allegedly acted together to rob on two occasions within the Accra metropolis have been put before an Accra Circuit Court.
They are also said to be responsible for car snatching within the Metropolis.
Felix Addo, aka Cool Jay, a film producer and Actor, Adzimah Mensah, aka Innocent, a driver and Charles Frimpong, aka Nana Frimpong, a Businessman, have been charged with conspiracy to robbery.
Addo, Mensah and one Sammy and Taller, now at large, have been additionally charged with robbery.
Frimpong is facing another charge of dishonestly receiving a black Toyota Corolla belonging to one Charles Bosoka.
They have been accused of robbing two persons of an unregistered Black Toyota Corolla S valued at ¢47,000 and cash in the sum of ¢40,000.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty with their counsels applying for bail, arguing they would not interfere with Police investigations.
The Prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Fuseini Yakubu, opposed the grant of bail, saying the accused persons were a flight risk and would not appear to stand trial.
The Court presided over by Evelyn Asamoah admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of ¢250,000 with three sureties, two to be justified with land documents.
The Court also directed the accused persons to be reporting to the Police on Thursdays until otherwise directed.
It further directed the Prosecution to file and serve the accused persons with their disclosures.
The matter has been adjourned to September 22.
Narrating the amended facts, ASP Yakubu said the complainant, Dussey Wisdom, a trader, lived with his daughter, Delali Dara Dousey, at Sapeiman.
ASP Yakubu said Charles Bosoka was a driver and a third prosecution witness while Charles Mensah, a sprayer and a fourth prosecution witness.
The Prosecution said on July 5, this year, the Intelligence Unit and Anti-Armed Robbery Unit of the CID headquarters gathered intelligence that some group of young men were engaged in a series of robberies and car snatching in the Metropolis.
ASP Yakubu said based on the intelligence, surveillance was mounted on Addo and Adzimah Mensah and they were both arrested.
The Prosecution said Identity Cards and Bank cards of Charles Bosoka were retrieved from Addo’s room.
It said during interrogation, Addo and Adzimah Mensah admitted having engaged in series of robberies, including a Black Unregistered Toyota S Corolla together with Sammy, now at large.
The Prosecution said the said Toyota Corolla S was given to Frimpong through Sammy, who knew it to be stolen property.
It said on July 17, this year, Frimpong was arrested in connection with another crime, and he admitted having received the Toyota Corolla S but swapped the engines of another Corolla at a Fitting Shop at Ofankor, near John Teye School in Accra.
The Prosecution said a physical examination of the two vehicles indicated that Frimpong had swapped their respective engines and the chassis with other accessories tampered with.
It said the vehicles were re-sprayed and on sale.
Prosecution said the Police also retrieved six other vehicles, including a Toyota Avalon, Dodge Charger, and Toyota Highlander, from the accused persons.
It said on July 5, this year, investigations revealed that Addo, Adzimah Mensah and Sammy, armed themselves with implements and unlawfully caused damage to the window of a prosecution witness.
The Prosecution said the accused persons entered the witness’s hall and made away with ¢40,000 and an unregistered Toyota Corolla S.
The police described Frimpong as the kingpin of the gang and receiver of all stolen vehicles by Addo, Adzimah Mensah and Sammy.
… as Asante Bekwai Court sentences tricycle rider to 10 years in prison for robbery
The Asante Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a tricycle rider to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for robbery.
Eric Ankamah, 19, denied conspiring with three others to attempt committing robbery and robbery.
However, he was found culpable after trial.
Meanwhile, his accomplices are currently at large.
Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Ofori told the Court presided over by Mr Mark Tair-mah Diboro that the complainants: Dickson Okyere Darko and Frank Osei were commercial motor riders based in Manso-Akropong whilst Ankamah, the convict lived at Ahensan, a suburb of Kumasi.
He said on April 3, 2021, Ankamah, together with the three others went to Bensase near Antoakrom where they hired the services of the complainants.
Detective Chief Inspector Ofori said two each sat on a motorbike and when they got to their destination, Ankamah, who sat right behind Osei placed a phone call thus later directed the riders to go to Keniago, a mining site.
Prosecution said in the course of the journey, Ankamah placed another call which made Osei suspicious and he pretended to go and urinate as Ankamah remained seated but his second pillion rider got down and ordered him (rider) to sit on the bike and urinate.
The Court heard that when Osei got on the motorbike, he rode it in such a way that Ankamah fell off and then drove away.
The gang snatched Darko’s bike to chase Osei but to no avail after they had assaulted Darko.
Prosecution said when Osei got back to Bensase, he informed their colleague riders who in turn informed their colleagues in neighbouring towns about the robbery expedition.
The search took them to Pakyi where Ankamah and one of his accomplices were spotted on the bike with Ankamah being the pillion rider, he said.
Detective Chief Inspector Ofori said sensing danger, the rider rode recklessly and Ankamah fell, sustaining various degrees of injuries.
Prosecution said Ankamah was grabbed and sent to the Pakyi No.1 police station and rushed to the Komko Anokye Teaching Hospital where he was admitted for treatment.
After his discharge, Ankamah was interrogated but he denied the offence though he admitted hiring the motorbike.
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