THE JUABEN Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region, presided over by Rose Marie Afua Asante, has sentenced a 25-year-old mechanic to 21 years’ imprisonment in hard labour.
The convict, Awudu Eliasu, was jailed on his own plea of guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, contrary to sections 23 (1) and 149 of Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and contrary to section 149 of Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) respectively.
His three other accomplices: Moses, Café and Mamuda are, however, at large and are being pursued by the police.
Presenting the facts of the case to the court, Chief Inspector Kofi Adzogble, who led the prosecution, said the accused persons on February 3, this year, conspired to rob one Abdul Nasir, a teacher of his Suzuki motorcycle with registration number M-22-AS-456 valued at GH¢5,000.
He said the complainant on that fateful day was riding his motorbike from Aboaso to his residence at Dumanafo, a community near Mamponteng in the Kwabre East municipality when the convict and Mamuda who were also on a motorbike asked him (complainant) of the location they were as if they had lost their way.
When the complainant stopped and attempted to answer their question, Mamuda swiftly pounced on him to snatch the motorbike from him.
Whilst struggling with Mamuda, Moses and Café suddenly emerged from a nearby bush and joined Mamuda to attack the complainant.
The complainant sensing danger surrendered his motorbike to them. He then quickly made a distress call to his friends at Aboaso, but before they arrived at the scene, the robbers had absconded.
They traced the convict and his gang to a washing bay at Bampenase, but they managed to escape.
According to the prosecutor, the robbers were given a hot chase during which the convict fell off from the motorbike, culminating in his arrest.
The Mamponteng police patrol team was called in to rescue him from being lynched.
The complainant identified the motorbike as his at the police station, but its documents and the helmet were not found.
The convict admitted to the charge after his caution statement was taken.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi