Asamankese (E/R), Sept. 17, GNA - The Asamankese Circuit court jailed lsmaila Mohamadu, unemployed, who attempted to rob a diamond dealer at gunpoint, 25 years in hard labour.

lsmaila pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit crime, attempted robbery and possession of firearms without permit. Prosecuting, Police Inspector S.A. Ntow told the court that on August 31, this year, lsmaila and one Kwame Anortey, now at large, attempted to rob a diamond dealer at gunpoint at Anomakojo. According to the prosecutor, Anortey who was resident in Accra visited lsmaila at Nkwanta and asked him (Ismaila) to join him (Anortey) to rob a diamond dealer.

The prosecutor said the suspects left for Anomakojo where lsmaila approached the complainant and informed him that some boys had diamond for sale at Nanakarikari Junction so he should accompany him to the place to buy the mineral.

The diamond dealer, the prosecutor said, agreed and took one million cedis along for the purported transaction.

Unknown to the diamond dealer, Ismaila's accomplices had laid ambush on the way, waiting for his passage.

The court heard that half way through the journey, lsmaila pulled a locally manufactured pistol on the dealer and in a short time, his accomplices emerged from the bush and demanded that the dealer surrendered his money.

However, the dealer was said to have mustered courage and kicked the gun off lsmaila's hand.

In the ensuing struggle, lsmaila's accomplices escaped, leaving him behind.

The diamond dealer later took hold of the pistol with which he lodged a complaint to the police.

The prosecutor said lsmaila was arrested four days later at Nkwanta.

During interrogation, he admitted the offence and mentioned Anortey as his accomplice.