Akwasi Bright, a 22-year-old washing bay attendant at Abuakwa near Kumasi, has been sentenced to ten years in prison with hard labour.

The Nkawie Circuit Court, presided over by Michael Johnson Abbey, found him guilty of conspiracy and robbery on July 13, 2015.

The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges but the court was convinced that he was culpable of the charges and consequently sentenced him.

Prosecuting in court, Chief Inspector Raymond Mahama Iddrisu, said Kofi Asoa, 40, a small scale miner at Anyinam in the Eastern Region, was the complainant.

He said around 2pm on October 6, 2014, Bright called Asoa on phone and identified himself as Osei Yaw who wanted to transact business with him (Asoa.)

Bright told the complainant that his uncle owned an excavator at Dunkwa and that they were offering it for hiring at a daily rate of GHc 1,500.

He then said they were ready to accept gold equivalent to the cash being charged daily for the excavator, and the complainant expressed interest in the deal.

Bright said again that an amount of GHc 3,600 was required to hire a truck to convey the excavator from Dunkwa to Anyinam for the complainant.

The convict then asked Asoa to transfer an advance fee of GHc1,500 through MTN mobile money to cover the cost of transporting the excavator to him.

Asoa, who wasn’t comfortable with that suggestion, quickly rejected it and insisted to see Bright in person before paying him the money.

On October 7, 2014 Bright called Asoa on phone and they both agreed to meet at Dunkwa so that they could inspect the excavator.

Bright also suggested that both parties should introduce themselves to their respective families to build trust between them.

On October 8, 2014 Bright met Asoa at Kumasi Kejetia and took him to Adako Jarchie near Ejisu, where he introduced him to his wife and family.

After this, he then took Asoa to Abuakwa Kubease. Whilst they were walking in the neighbourhood, Bright secretly communicated with his accomplices, numbering three, now at large.

On their way, the three accomplices, wielding cutlasses and other weapons, joined them and ordered Asoa to surrender his bag which contained GHc1,780, a Nokia Lumia phone and personal effects.

Bright and his three accomplices then took to their heels with their booty but Asoa raised an alarm and Bright was arrested by residents after a hot chase, but his accomplices escaped.

He was handed over to the Abuakwa police.