Ebenezer AgbedorM
A small scale miner who hired the services of an ‘okada’ man and robbed him of his motorbike at the Ashanti Region town of Behenase, near Jacobu in the Amansie Central District, has been jailed for 14 years.
Ebenezer Agbedor, 22, a resident of Afanko Junction, sprayed the complainant with powdered pepper before dispossessing him of his motorcycle valued GH¢2,000 around 6:20am on Valentine’s Day.
He was jailed at Bekwai Circuit Court, presided over by Fredrick Nawurah, after he admitted the offence of robbery, contrary to Section 149 of Act 29/60.
The prosecutor, Detective Inspector Stephen Ofori, said the convict, on February 14, 2019, met the complainant behind the Jacobu Church of Pentecost and engaged his services to convey him to Fiakoma, a farming community in the Amansie Central District.
On reaching a section of the road at Behenase community, Inspector Ofori narrated that Ebenezer asked the complainant to stop for him to urinate, which the ‘okada’ rider obliged.
He told the court that the convict returned from a nearby bush to mount the motorbike for him to be taken to his final destination.
While sitting at the back of the ‘okada’ rider, the prosecutor disclosed that the convict pulled out a black polythene bag containing powdered pepper from his pocket and sprinkled it onto the face of the complainant, causing the rider to experience a burning sensation which made it difficult for him to breathe.
Ebenezer Agbedor then grabbed the motorbike and pushed the complainant off from it, grabbed his mobile phone and escaped with them, Inspector Ofori stated.
He added that the convict took the motorbike to a farming community called Kyekyewere, near Obuasi, where he claimed to have handed over the motorbike to Yaw Hero, another suspect and Vasco, who is currently at large.
The prosecutor said the duo also sold the motorbike to one Nana at Council Quarters in Obuasi, with the convict receiving GH¢900 as his share of the proceeds.
The complainant reported the incident to police at Jacobu, who arrested Ebenezer on the same day after was spotted at a hotel in the town.
Inspector Ofori said Ebenezer admitted the offence in his caution statement and led police to examine the crime scene after the complainant’s phone was retrieved from him.
He was charged and arraigned thereof after police investigations.
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi