A Tarkwa circuit court has sentenced two Togolese, Bono Ali, 30, and Issaka Sadoko, 25, to 50 years imprisonment each for armed robbery.

They beat up and robbed their victims of 740 Ghana cedis, three cutlasses, four pair of jeans trousers and five mobile phones at Berdukrom, near Tarkwa in the Western Region.

They pleaded guilty but, Kwame Moses, 33, who the convicts claimed was part of the robbery, denied his involvement in the act.

Moses has been remanded in to prison custody to re-appear before the court on December 12.

Detective Chief Inspector Oscar Amponsah told the court presided over by Mr. Samuel Obeng Diawuo that the complaints, Ayaba Tankuli, Seth Odame and Amina Atanbogeli, all farmers, reside at Berdukrom in the same area with the convicts, who are illegal miners.

The prosecution said on November 24 at about 0130 hours, the convicts broke into the room of Ayaba, beat and robbed him of 740 Ghana cedis, a mobile phone, three cutlasses and four pairs of jeans trousers.

Insp. Amponsah said the armed men proceeded to the room of Seth and Amina and subjected them to beatings and made away with 4 mobile phones.

The prosecution said the victims reported the matter to the chief of the area, Nana Hamidu Haruna, and the traditional ruler led the complainants to report the matter to the police.

Insp. Amponsah said at about 0400 hours the same day, Nana Haruna spotted the convicts at Berdukrom about to board a taxi to Tarkwa.

According to the prosecution, Nana Haruna suspected them to be armed robbers so he joined the taxi and pretended he was travelling to Tarkwa.

Insp. Amponsah said when they reached Tarkwa, the chief ordered the taxi driver to drive to the Nsuta police station, and the chief handed the convicts and Moses to the police.

The prosecution said when a search was conducted on the convicts, 427 Ghana cedis, four pairs of jeans trousers, five mobile phones, 1000 CFA, and iron rod were found on them.

He said Ali during interrogation admitted the offence, and mentioned the name of Sadoko and Moses as his accomplices.

Insp. Amponsah told the court that Sadoko in his cautioned statement said he was forced to take part in the robbery.