Aflao, March 8, GNA - Kwame Torkpor, 25, farmer of Penyi who, with an accomplice donned attires akin to those of the Ghana Immigration Service and with guns and cutlasses waylaid and robbed travellers, has been jailed 53 years in had labour. The two were said to have emerged from the bush, ordered at gun point three travellers riding motor bikes from Noepe in the Republic of Togo towards Penyi to stop and lie face down, robbed them and escaped on one of the victim's motor bike.

Torkpor, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty by an Aflao Circuit Court presided over Mr Francis Obiri last Friday. Mr Akwasi Asafo-Agyei, Deputy Superintendent of Police of Dzodze, told the court that on December 17 last year, Torkpor and his accomplice now at large blocked the road near the Ghana/Togo frontier at Akanu, near Dzodze to commit the crime.

Mr Asafo-Agyei said the convict and his accomplice stole a total of 260.00 Ghana cedis and two mobile phones from their victims before fleeing. He said a week later Torkpor was arrested for a different crime by the police at Penyi following which the three victims identified him. Mr Obiri said the likes of Torkpor were dangerous elements who by their actions continue to inflict pain and hardship on many homes and families by sometimes killing innocent people and therefore did not deserve any mercy but deterrent punishment. "They kill husbands and wives, making many, widows and orphans, and unjustifiably unleashing hardships on many," he said.