Three jailed 44 years for car robbery
Three people who beat up a taxi driver, tied his neck with a rope, and robbed him of his vehicle at Gbawe in Accra have been jailed for 44 years.
The convicts are Kwabena Bandoh, who is a car wash attendant; Kingsley Adjei, an electrician; and Alex Oppong, a dispatch rider.
The three were held on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and robbery.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, said that the complainant, James Andoh, is a driver residing at Weija SCC, while the convicts lived at Circle and Ablekuma, respectively.
The prosecution said the complainant was in charge of a Toyota Vitz with registration number GW 5160-23.
The prosecution said that at about 12:40 am on June 21, 2023, the accused persons engaged the service of the complainant.
The prosecution said the accused persons, who were at Odorkor, asked the complainant to take them to Mallam-Gbawe Police Station.
On their way, the prosecution said, they reached a police snap checkpoint, and they informed the police that they had a case at the Gbawe Police Station.
The prosecution said a few meters from the Gbawe Police Station, the accused persons asked the complainant to take the right road, but he (the complainant) took the left.
The convicts began assaulting the complainant with slippers, tied his neck with a rope, and smeared a hot ointment into his eyes.
According to the prosecution, a struggle ensued, and the convicts pulled the complainant out of the car.
The prosecution said the complainant became unconscious, and the convicts succeeded in robbing him of his vehicle.
The court heard that Bandoh drove the car to Kwame Nkrumah Circle and parked it behind the Ghana Commercial Bank, where he was looking for a buyer.
On the same day, the prosecutor said the complainant reported the matter to the police, and he was given a police medical form.
The prosecution said the complainant later led the police to the crime scene, and his pair of slippers were retrieved from the scene.
Police intelligence later indicated that the accused persons were at Circle with the vehicle, offering the car for sale.
The prosecution said some police officers were dispatched to Circle, where Bandoh and Agyei were arrested while they were in the process of selling it.
The prosecutor said in the accused persons’ caution statements they admitted the offence and indicated that three of them robbed the complainant.
On July 1, 2023, the police arrested Oppong at his hideout.
The prosecution said Bandoh and Agyei identified Oppong as their “gang leader.”
The three pleaded not guilty, but the court, presided over by Isaac Addo, found them guilty at the end of the trial.
Kwabena Bandoh was sentenced to 14 years, and Kingsley Adjei and Alex Oppong were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each.