Juaso (Ash), Aug. 18, GNA - After a foiled attempt to rob a bank at Agogo in the Asante-Akim North District, a 30-year-old ex-convict has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour by the Juaso Circuit Court.

The sentence of Kwaku Poku, a driver's mate comes a few months after serving a six-year-old jail term handed him by the Agogo magistrate court for stealing. He pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful entry, causing unlawful damage, attempt to commit crime and was convicted on his own plea. Assistant Superintendent of Police Isaac Dompreh, presenting the facts of the case told the court, presided over by Mr. Jacob Boon that a principal witness in the case was one Razak Nyanteh, a police constable at Agogo.

He said Constable Nyanteh, who reported for night guard duties at the Agogo branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) on August 3, this year detected that the air conditioner in the banking hall had started functioning though it was off when he reported to duty. The prosecution said sensing danger Constable Nyanteh went round the building and heard an unusual noise in the manager's office after discovering that three louvre blades and a burglar proof had been damaged.

ASP Dompreh said after close observation, the witness spotted Poku in the banking hall through the broken louver blades and immediately called the police station for reinforcement. The accused who attempted to escape through the broken window in the process broke more of the louver blades compelling Constable Nyanteh to fire warning shots forcing the accused to retreat into the banking hall.

The prosecution said minutes later, the police reinforcement arrived together with the bank's manager who opened the front door leading to the banking hall and saw that documents were scattered all over the floor. The accused was found hidden in a wooden cabinet and was arrested and after investigations charged with the offences.