Samuel Osei
A member of a street gang that threatened to hurt a woman in a sickening robbery operation has been jailed by the Bekwai Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region.
Samuel Osei, aka Atta George, 19, was jailed 16 years in hard labour after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy and robbery, contrary to section 23 (1) and 149 of Act 29/60.
The convict and his pal only named as Kwame, who is currently at large, were said to have attacked a female teacher with a machete at Minti near Asiwa in the Bosome-Freho District of the Ashanti Region on September 16, 2019.
The prosecutor, Detective Inspector Stephen Ofori, said the victim was grabbed at about 3:00 pm on that fateful day at Minti Junction by the two-member gang, who emerged from a nearby bush with machetes, saying “give us your valuables else we’re going to hurt you.”
He narrated that the duo, both galamseyers, robbed the victim of her Techno Spark 3 mobile phone valued at GH¢600 and also dispossessed her of a wallet containing voter ID card, Agogo Presbyterian College of Education ID card, NHIS card, and cash of GH¢200.
Inspector Ofori said the female teacher was waiting for her colleague at the junction when she was attacked by the gang. According to him, some youth of the community, who knew of Samuel Osei, went to confront him after they were informed of the incident.
The prosecutor stated that the youth managed to retrieve the victim’s mobile phone and other items taken away from her by the gang, but he was able to escape arrest.
However, Samuel Osei was eventually apprehended on October 5, 2019 by some teachers who handed him over to the Asiwa police.
Inspector Ofori said the convict admitted the offences in his caution statement and told law enforcement officers that his accomplice only known as Kwame had fled the community.
He was charged with the offences and arraigned after police investigation.
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi