Accra Sept.4, GNA - A 22-year old Nigerian, who was among a gang of armed robbers that held four watchmen hostage and robbed a construction firm of wood processing machines, spare parts and 2.5 million cedis at Dodowa three years ago, was on Thursday sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment with hard labour by a High Court in Accra. Michael Obi Abuchi, the Nigerian, pleaded not guilty but six members of the jury that tried him found him guilty on the charges of conspiracy and robbery.

A member of the jury dissented.

Abuchi's sentence would take retrospective effect from July 11, 2000 when he was arrested. He has 30 days to appeal.

Sentencing him, the Court presided over by Mr Justice G.A. Aryeetey stated the accused must be given a longer sentences to enable the public to go about its duties peacefully.

The Judge declared: "A child who does not allow the parents to sleep in the night, will also not sleep."

Earlier, Abuchi told the court that the charges preferred against him were all hearsays but asked that his wife and son were considered.

"I did not rob any company and I am pleading with the court to deal with me leniently."

The Judge said the Prosecution after calling four witnesses had been able to prove that two or more persons committed that act, adding that they took properties belonging to Kasap Construction Company after ransacking their offices.

He said the Prosecution had proved the robbery charge adding that empty shell of cartridges, clothes used in tying up the four watchmen and empty schnapps bottle were found on the premises.

The Judge said evidences had also been led on the assertion that Abuchi, who was not in mask, was on the premises of the company with other masked armed men and they drunk and tied up the four watchmen. Witnesses, who testified in the case, were able to identify him as one of the armed men that invaded the company, as Abuchi was not in mask.

The court noted that Abuchi's statement were full of contradictions. He had stated in his caution statement to the Police that he was blind at the time the crime was committed but later regained his sight. "He could not lead evidence to establish that he was blind."

The court was of the view that Abuchi lied to the Police when he told them that he was lodging at the Sea View Hotel in Accra but investigation, however, revealed that he had never lodged there. The Judge noted that although Abuchi, who had earlier told the court that he bought those goods from Nigeria, had no receipts and waybill covering them.

"Abuchi said his passport and his waybills were seized by the Police," the Court noted.

The Judge said the goods were found on him and this linked him to the robbery adding all the empty cartons of the goods were with the company. Evidence before the court was that on July 11, 2000 at about 0130 hours armed men numbering about 10 invaded the premises of Kasap Construction Company at Dodowa, tied up four watchmen who were on duty and subsequently locked them up in a storeroom.

Prosecution said the men broke into the premises and took away three wood processing machines; spare parts one Laptop computer, a fax machine and 2.5 million cedis. They carried the items away in the company's truck.

The Prosecutor said the head of the security on his early morning rounds rescued the watchmen and reported the matter to the Police. The Prosecution said Abuchi and two other persons were arrested when they offered some of the stolen spare parts for sale in Accra.