The robbers, believed to be between the ages of 22 to 25, reportedly attacked various homes at Agbogba Abla Adjei, Ashongman and Parakou and stole personal effects including cash, mobile phones and laptops using guns.
The convicts Gabriel Kojo Agyemang, mason, Peter Akakpo, alias Dompee, Ernest Nana Kwame Acheampong, Vincent Agbetorglo, alias Odomos, Robert Tawiah and Danlad Seidu Drumah alias laad all labourers were sentenced to 20 years and 40 years on two charges of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery respectively.
The sentences are, however, to run concurrently.
The trial judge, Francis Obiri, in his judgment stated that all the accused persons voluntarily gave to the police in the presence of an independent witness confession statements of their involvement in the robbery cases in those areas. However, in court they all denied being part of the crime.
The judge, who observed that all the accused persons had guilty mind and wanted to cover up their deeds by telling lies to the court when they opened their defence, indicated that their denial was an afterthought.
Francis Obiri, who said the prosecution proved their case beyond reasonable doubt, stated that their statements to the police was the true version of what happened after stating that “they told the truth in their statement because at that time the issue was fresh in their mind. They have been nailed by their own statements”.
While about to sentence them, one lawyer, George Asamaney, who acted as a friend of the court, prayed the judge to give the young men a minimum sentence so they would be given an opportunity to start life afresh after serving their terms.
However, the state attorney, Winifred Sarpong, who informed the court that they were facing four other robbery cases at different courts, asked the court to confine them for a long time after describing them as “dangerous people”.
According to her “by the time they come, they will be old and cannot function in the trade they have engaged themselves in”.
The judge, making reference to a recent robbery attack on a Metro Mass Bus driver, agreed with the state attorney and said “I do not expect the accused persons in their youthful ages to engage in robbery and if they do, they have to be confined for a longer time so that the society will live in peace”.
The judge also disagreed with lawyer Asamaney that they had shown remorse for their action stating that “throughout the trial, the accused persons did not show any remorse for their action to warrant mercy from the court”.
The fact of the case as presented by the prosecutor are that on March 3, 2011, the Regional Police Command upon information that a group of young men armed with locally manufactured pistols were attacking and robbing residents of Agbogba Abla Adjei, Ashongman and Parakou, mounted an operation to curb the situation.
Ms Sarpong stated that the S.W.A.T team of the police National Headquarters, Accra, successfully effected the arrest of the convicts from their hide-out along with some of the stolen items.
The police public relations unit later caused an announcement to be made on radio inviting the robbery victims in the areas to come for identification.
Among those who responded to the call were the complainant, one Gerhard Temdan and his wife who identified all the accused persons as the group that came to rob them in their house at Parakou Estate.
According to the prosecutor, the complainant mentioned the convicts stole household items including Fuji camera valued at GH¢400, a sony audio system valued at GH500, Toshiba laptops, mobile phones, and a cash amount of GH¢ 900 from them.
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