Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 19 November 2014

Source: GNA

Four jailed 80 years for attempted robbery

Four persons were on Tuesday handed down a total of 80 years imprisonment by a Circuit Court in Accra for breaking into a house after attempting to rob a couple twice at gun point in Nungua.

Isaac Obeng; aka burger, Charles Annang; aka Chilli, Robert Annang; aka Bob and Prince Otu Laryea; aka Asouden are to serve 20 years each on the charge of attempted robbery and 15 years each on the charge of Conspiracy to commit robbery.

Their sentences are to run concurrently. An accomplice known as Sent Man is however at large.

The court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri handed down the sentence after the accused persons were found guilty on the charges.

Prosecuting Chief Superintendent of Police, Duuti Tuaruka said the complainant were Mr Emmanuel Kwame Alimo and his wife. The couple resides at Odikoman, near Nungua.

According to Chief Supt Tuaruka the accused persons were residents of Nungua.

The prosecutor said for the past three months there had been series of robbery at Nungua during which the said robbers used pistols and club hammers to damage people doors and rob the victims at gun point.

On August 24, last year, at about 2:00 am, three armed men with a pistol and club hammer jumped over a fence wall of the complainants’ house.

According to Chief Supt. the armed men used the club hammer to hit the doors of the complainant doors in their bid to gain access into their room but they abandoned their mission when the complainants raised the alarm.

This compelled the complainant to change their doors into Russian made security doors fortified interior burglar proofs, the prosecutor said.

However on August 29, last year, at about 2:00am, three young men armed with a pistol and club hammer attempted breaking into the complainants’ house.

The prosecutor said the dogs in the house barked so loud while the residents raised the alarm. In their desperation, the prosecutor said the armed men fired two shots at the door leading to the corridor of the house and fled.

On August 30, last year, at about 1:00pm the Police had information that a group of young men who have been going on robbery expedition during the night were in the room of Laryea smoking Indian hemp.

The police moved swiftly to the scene and arrested Laryea, Obeng and Robert. The club hammer used in breaking the door of the complainants was retrieved as it bears the brown paints of the complainant’s doors.

During interrogation, the convicts admitted the offence and led the Police to arrest Charles and Sent Man whom they described a key member of their robbery gang and keeper of their pistols used in their operations.

Prosecution said they led the Police to the complainants’ house and identified it as one of the house they attempted to rob on August29, last year at dawn.