Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 14 March 2007

Source: GNA

Two armed robbers jailed for 30 years

Agona Swedru, March 14, GNA - An Agona Swedru Circuit court has sentenced two armed robbers to 30 years imprisonment on their own plea for robbing a taxi driver, Kwame Panyin of his car at a knife point. They were Kwesi Acheampong 29 and Michael Asante 35, both drivers residing in Accra.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Fredrick Martey prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Justice Charles A. Wilson that on March 3, this year, the accused persons hired a taxi cab driven by Panyin from Gomoa Obuasi to Agona Nyakrom in the Central Region. He said after some rounds at Nyakrom, the accused persons asked Panyin to drive them to another village Gomoa Kwame Adwen near Gomoa Afransi.

The prosecutor said on the way, Asante pulled out a knife and ordered Panyin to hand over the key which Panyin obliged and went to a nearby village to inform the people of his ordeal.

DSP Martey said the people mobilised themselves and chased the accused persons to Amponsah a village near Agona Swedru, where they were arrested and handed over to the police at Gomoa Obuasi. He said when the luggage of the accused persons were searched they found a screwdriver, kitchen knife, two pieces of cellotape, powdered pepper and two bottles of Coca Cola suspected to be laced with some drugs.