Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 1 November 2012

Source: GNA

Labourer jailed 50 years for robbery

George Jabal, a 22–year-old labourer, who conspired with three others to attack a provision store at Teshie Greda Estate and made away with GH¢440.00 was on Thursday sentenced to 50 years imprisonment.

The convict pleaded guilty before the Accra Circuit Court to charges of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.

However, two other accomplices Richard Elewosi Gagbe, a car washer and Dela Anani, Aviation Security Officer, who pleaded not guilty to the charges were remanded into custody to reappear on November 15.

Besides, one of the suspects who sustained gunshot wounds from the Police is at large.

The Prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Patrick A. Morkeh said the complainant is a business woman who owns a provision store at Teshie Greda Estate whilst the accused persons are residents of Teshie.

He said at about 2030 hours on October 26 the accused persons armed with AK-47 assault rifle and other offensive weapons attacked the complainant in her store and in the process inflicted severe wound on her and succeeded in robbing her of the money.

He said the robbers also fired indiscriminately into the roof of the store to scare passers-by from pursuing them.

DSP Morkeh said a distress caller alerted the Police patrol team who arrived at the crime scene on time.

He said the robbers on seeing the Police took to their heels and managed to jump over a fence wall and entered a certain house. But before Jabal jumped over the wall he dropped the AK-47 rifle he was holding.

He said the Police combed the area for about three hours before arresting the accused persons and retrieving the AK-47 rifle together with five rounds of ammunition.