DRIVER JAILED 10 YEARS FOR ROBBING STATE ATTORNEY

By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba

One out of the four armed robbers, who attacked a State Attorney after robbing her of her Hyundai Tucson 4×4 car, two Laptops, two mobile phones, four assorted fruits drinks, some assorted soaps and a cash of GHC850.00 at Community 18 near Lashibi in Accra, was yesterday sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court.
The convict, Emmanuel Gbetor, a driver, was sentenced on his own plea of guilty on each counts of conspiracy to commit crime of robbery and robbery and the 10 years sentenced is to run concurrently.

His accomplices, Freeman Fancy, a Businessman, Richmond Azeinge,  an Electrician and Selassie Ntumi, Carpenter, who all pleaded not guilty to the crime  and were however remanded in custody  to reappear on May 22, this year.

 Gbetor, who begins his jail sentenced, would be brought back to court to stand trial together with Freeman Fancy, Richmond Azeinge and one Dominc Senyo in a separate arm robbery expedition.

Passing the  sentence, the court presided over by Miss Audrey Korcuvie-Tay said although the convict pleaded guilty to the offence,  the court took into consideration of  the  menace of robbery cases before handing over the 10 years jail sentence .

The court further held that the sentence would however; also serve as deterrent to others, especially those pleaded not guilty to the crime.

Superintendent of Police, Kofi Blagodzi, prosecuting, said on February1, this year at about 1:30 am, a team of policemen on night  patrol duty within the Ho Municipality  intercepted the convict and the accused persons around the Ho sports Stadium and subject them to interrogation to find out where they were going at the time of the night. .

He said in the process, Sellases Ntumi, after sensing danger took to his heels, while the convict and the others were arrested and during a spot search conducted on them, the police discovered two Laptops, five mobile phones, assorted fruit drinks, four assorted Key soap and a cash of 850.

Supt. Blagodzi said, further investigations revealed that on January 31, 2012, at about 8:40 pm, Miss Serina Da-Seglah, a complainant in the case driver was attacked by armed robbers at her community 18 residence near Lashibi in Accra, when the driver alighted from her car to open a gate to the house.

He said, the robbers succeeded in robbing the state Attorney driver of the items found with the accused by the police in case and bolted.

The prosecutor said, the accused who robbed the state Attorney driver drove the vehicle with the items to Ho and parked the Car near the Ho sport Stadium and went to look for their accomplice, Dominic Senyo who has been described as their chief Marketing officer.

According to the prosecutor, during further interrogations, the convict and the three others accused persons admitted the crime and said they are responsible for many robberies in Accra and Tema areas.

They also mention Dominic Senyo as their accomplice and chief marketing officer for the previous robberies cars they have snatched at different operation and led police to arrest him.

Supt. Blagodzi said in his caution statement, Dominic confessed haven received seven different cars from the convict and the accused persons and sold them to a buyer from Togo but not the Hyundai Tucson belonging to the state Attorney.

The prosecutor noted that, on February 12, this year the accused persons led police to Ashaiman to retrieve a Kia Pride car which they snatched at Grader Estate and sold out to one of their customers.

The accused persons also led police to Kakasonaka near Michel Camp in Tema to retrieve two pistols from bush where they used to hide them after operations.

He said on April 2, Selassi Ntum who escaped arrested was apprehended at Adenta with a locally manufactured pistol when he visited his friend for another robbery through an informant.

The prosecutor explained that, during his caution statement, he admitted the offence and said when he escaped from the arrest at Ho he called one Frank at Aflo who took the car they snatched from the State Attorney driver for sale on his instruction, but an attempt to arrest Frank fail and police are still conducting investigation for his arrest.

Dominic Senyo, the armed robbers’ chief marketing officer has been prepared alongside with Emmanuel Gbetor, Freeman Fancy and Richmond Azeinge on a separate charge sheet for trial.