Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - Three persons were on Monday sentenced to 17 years imprisonment each by an Accra Circuit Court for rape and robbery.

Kofi Yeboah a barber, Kwabena Ebo and Osei Prempeh both masons pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and robbery. Prempeh was additionally charged for raping one of the victims at gun point. Yaw Asamoah, an accomplice however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court presided over by Mr. C.A. Wilson fixed February 4, for Asamoah's trial. These same convicts have also confessed to the killing of Pastor Nii Addy of the Lighthouse Chapel International at gun point during the yuletide at Gbawe in Accra, and are awaiting trial for their involvement in that crime as well.

Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kofi Blagodzi said the complainants in Monday's case, Alhaji Seidu, Hudu Mohammed and a lady whose name has been withheld, were all traders. At about 0300 hours on December 30, last year, the convicts and Asamoah, armed with pump action guns and cutlasses broke into the room of Mohammed and made away with three mobile phones, a DVD player and GH¢100 cedis cash. They also went to Alhaji Seidu's house and robbed him of four mobile phones, two DVD players and GH¢260 cedis cash. After their operation, prosecution said, Prempeh went to the lady and raped her. The matter was reported to the police, who proceeded to the scene.

Prosecution said during investigations it was detected that the robbers also operated in other houses at the Gbawe-Bulemin neighbourhood. He said some of the items stolen from the complainants were found on the market and the sellers were arrested, who assisted the police to arrest the convicts at their hideout at Prankese and Ofankor. "The accused persons admitted the offences in their caution statement to the police," DSP Blagodzi said.