Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Source: GNA

Excavator operator jailed eight years

A 22-year-old excavator operator who attempted to rob his former employer has been jailed eight years with hard labour by a Tarkwa Circuit Court.

The convict, Isaac Akpor, was sentenced on his own plea of being guilty to the offence.

Presenting the facts of the case, Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah, told the Court, presided over by Mr. Justice Emmanuel Bart-Plange Brew, that the complainant, Wasilu Mohammed, is a miner who resides at Prestea.

He said in the year 2013, Mr. Joseph Yalley, a gold dealer, employed the services of Akpor at his gold refinery shop in Prestea in the Prestea Huni/Valley District of the Western Region.

According to the prosecutor, in May 2014, the convict left his employment without any prior notice to his employer and travelled to the Greater Accra Region.

Then after staying in Accra for one month, the convict came back to Prestea and pleaded with his former boss to employ him again but his request was rejected.

The prosecutor said on February 14 this year, the convict, who was angry with his former employer for refusing to re-engage him contacted one Aziz Muhib, a witness in the case and asked Muhib to assist him to rob and kill Mr. Yalley.

According to the prosecutor, Muhib feigned interest in the deal, therefore, the convict asked him to look for other persons who would be willing to support them execute the plan.

The prosecutor explained that Muhib also informed Seidu Yaya, Baba and Wasilu Mohammed, the complainant, and they also contrived to take part in the planned robbery.

Therefore, on the day of the planned robbery, Muhib secretly informed the Police and Mr. Yalley and the convict was arrested when he was waiting with the rest of the gang at a designated place for the robbery.

Akpor was prosecuted and sentenced accordingly.