Accra, June 11, GNA - Three persons who assaulted a taxi driver with a cutlass and robbed him of his cab and a mobile phone at Kinbu Gardens last January were sentenced to various jail terms by an Accra Fast Track High Court on Monday.

Adjetey Sowah, aka Sheriff, 28, Nii Ayi Michael Kwasi, aka Dadi Lumba, 23, and Aryetey Aryee Emmanuel, aka Korkortey, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and robbery.

The court, after verifying their criminal records from the Criminal Investigations Department sentenced Adjetey to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour, Nii Ayi to 18 years' imprisonment and Aryetey to 15 years' imprisonment.

The court explained that in the case of Adjetey, the Tribunal at City Engineers had sentenced him to 18 months jail term on August 10, 1999 on charges of conspiracy and stealing. The court said robbery also constituted one of the most serious crimes hence handed down a stiffer punishment. In the case of Nii Ayi, the court noted that though he was a first offender, he was the "master mind" of the offence. Aryetey was given lesser sentence because the court took into consideration his age and the fact that he was a first offender. The court, presided over by Mr Justice E.K. Ayebi said the sentences of the accused persons should take effect from the day of their arrest.

The case of prosecution was that at about 0030 on January 27, Aryetey stopped a taxi with registration number GW 8524 W at Kinbu Gardens in Accra, and asked the driver, Mr Lawrence Acolatse to take him to the funeral grounds of the late Ga Mantse at Kaneshie. As soon as Aryetey entered the car, he removed the ignition key and pulled out a cutlass hidden in his trousers. His accomplices came out from their hideout and assisted Emmanuel to snatch the taxi and mobile phone from Mr Acolatse and they inflicted cutlass wounds on him.

A report was made to the police who launched investigations into the matter.

The police on January 31, this year arrested Nii Ayi and Aryetey during a similar offence and they, in turn led the police to arrest Adjetey.