The convicts
THE BEKWAI Circuit Court has sentenced a driver and his mate to a total of 34 years in prison for carrying out an audacious robbery on the street of Abuotem in the Bosomtwi District of the Ashanti Region.
The driver, Augustine Twumasi, 23, and his mate, Kwame Asare, 21, both residents of Jachie, were found guilty of conspiracy and robbery and were accordingly convicted and sentenced 17 years each.
The prosecutor, Detective Inspector Stephen Ofori, told the court presided over by Fredrick Nawura that the convicts used a pair of scissors, machete and jackknife to subdue their victim, who is a nurse resident at Kortwia.
According to him, the convicts carried out the attack on February 7, 2019 at about 8:00 p.m. at Pentecost Junction near Adom Gas Station at Abuotem in the Bosomtwi District.
He narrated that Augustine Twumasi and Kwame Asare dispossessed Juliana Adjei of her handbag that contained a mobile phone worth GH¢600, NHIS card, E-zwich card, nursing training ID card, lecture card, hands free, umbrella, a pair of brown trousers and blouse and phone charger – all valued at GH¢372.
Inspector Ofori said the victim had alighted at the junction, where the incident took place, waiting for her father to pick her home when she was attacked by the convicts who were sitting under a wooden structure.
She had come to the area to visit her parents at Abuotem New Site after closing from work when the duo threatened her with the machete, jackknife and the pair of scissors, the prosecutor narrated.
Mr. Ofori stated that Augustine hit the victim’s back with the machete and subsequently kicked her when she initially tried to resist them.
He further disclosed that the complainant’s mobile phone fell off in the process and one of the convict picked it up and snatched the bag before taking to their heels.
She raised the alarm and Kwame Asare was arrested by some young men in the neighbourhood, who later handed him over to the police at Feyiase where items in the bag were retrieved.
However, Augustine Twumasi managed to escape with the victim’s phone, but luck eluded him when he was arrested at his hideout at Jachie on 28 April, 2019.
He also confessed to the crime and indicated that he took the complainant’s phone to Adum PZ area where he sold it to a dealer for GH¢200.
The phone dealer took to his heels on seeing the police during a visit. Later, the driver and the mate were charged and arraigned after police investigations.Â
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi