An Accra Circuit Court on Tuesday sentenced General Lance Corporal Raymond Amegashie of the Ghana Police Service and three others to a total jail term of 70 years for robbery.
The Policeman and the three had robbed a trader of GH¢45,000.00 and US$1,000 in a supermarket at Nungua in Accra at gunpoint.
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Delivering its final verdict, the Court, presided over by Aboagye Tandoh, held that he was handing down the sentence based on the role each one of the accused persons played in the robbery.
The court sentenced Corporal Amegashie to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour; Ibrahim Ayirebo a motor mechanic, to 18 years imprisonment; Bright Dorkanu, a driver’s mate and Stanley Akorli, a driver were sentenced to 16 years imprisonment each.
This was after the court had found them guilty on the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery. The four carried out the act at about 2100 hours on December 12, 2017.
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The court further directed that the GH¢19,420.00 and US$600 which were retrieved from the accused persons be refunded to the complainant, Hellen Asante.
It noted that prosecution after calling four witnesses had established its case beyond reasonable doubt in respect of the charges of conspiracy and robbery.
The court recounted that Mr Amegashie was the head of the gang, Mr Ayirebo was the operating officer and Mr Dorkanu was the organiser. In the case of Mr Akorli, the court described him as the liaison officer in the December 12, 2017 robbery.
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During the trial, the court observed that the convicts had planned to rob a mobile money vendor but that was foiled, hence their plan to rob the complainant on December 12, 2017.
Pleading for mitigation, Paul Asabi Abarigah who represented Corporal Amegashie, prayed the court to deal leniently with his client because he was young and had years ahead of him.
Mr Abarigah said the court should take into consideration how remorseful his client and accomplices were during the trial and if the court had cautioned them by saying “go and sin no more” they would have jumped for that opportunity.
According to the counsel, granting them minimal sentences would afford the convicts the opportunity to re-integrate into society.
Kwame Oppong, who represented Mr Akorli described his client as a victim of circumstances and called for a lenient punishment.
He said his client had learnt his lesson.
The Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Victor Dosoo earlier narrated that the complainant, Ms. Asante is a trader operating a provision store around Nungua Agricultural Development Bank.
Chief inspector Dosoo said Mr Amegashie was stationed at Tema SWAT Unit, Mr Ayirebo resides at Tema Community One, Mr Dorkanu also resides at Ashiaman and Mr Akorli lives at Tema Gulf City.
On December 12, 2007, Prosecution said at about 2100 hours, the four accused persons, now convicts planned to go on a robbery spree.
Prosecution said Mr Amegahsie, who was detailed for guard duty at Glotee Ghana, abandoned his post with his AK47 Rifle plus 20 rounds of ammunition and Mr Ayirebo also armed himself a pistol.
According to prosecution Messrs Amegashie and Ayirebo boarded a taxi with registration number GX 9514-13 driven by mr Akorli and proceeded to the complainant’s shop at Nungua. Mr Dorkanu later joined them.
The prosecution said the three, who were there earlier, alighted from the vehicle and entered the complainant’s shop amidst sporadic gunfire and robbed her of GH¢45,000.00 and US$1,000.
After the act, prosecution said the convicts boarded their vehicle and sped off to Tema while the complainant reported the incident to the Police.
Messrs Ayirebo, Dorkanu and Akorli were arrested at Community 18 Abattoir Police barrier where GH¢19,500.00 and US$600 were retrieved from them.
The prosecution said Mr Amegahsie managed to escape with his AK 47 rifle and spent the night at Tema Motorway Roundabout and returned his rifle to his unit the following day.
Prosecution said Mr Amegashie attempted to escape arrest at Tsopoli Police Barrier but he was nabbed.
Source: GNA