Court slaps 45-year jail term on armed robber

A Sunyani Circuit Court has sentenced a 22-year-old apprentice electrician, Kingsford Kwaku Yeboah, to 45 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for engaging in different robbery incidents in and around Sunyani.

He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, causing harm and robbery in three separate armed robbery cases.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the fourth robbery incident involving him and one Thomas Damoah at Kwatire on February 9, 2016, which is still pending before the same court.

Cases

The court, presided by Justice Joan Eyi King, said Yeboah on April 18, 2016, robbed Madam Oforiwa Mensa Boatemaa of her handbag containing GH¢15,000 and other valuables at Odumase, near Sunyani. 

On April 25, 2016, he also robbed another victim, Sophia Owusu, of her waist bag containing GH¢1,915 and four mobile phones, estimated to cost GH¢2,090, at gunpoint at Penkwase, a suburb of Sunyani.

Yeboah was also charged with another robbery involving Madam Kate Sam-Wilson whom he robbed of GH¢2,500 and a mobile phone.

Before the judgement, he told the court that he had two children and there was no one to take care of them should he be sent to jail.

He, therefore, pleaded with the court to lessen his punishment to enable him to take care of his children and promised that should he be given another opportunity, he would not engage in robbery again.

Judgement

In her ruling, Justice Eyi King said since there were a number of armed robbery cases in the region and the nation at large, the court would do everything right to minimise crimes in the country.

She said that was not the first time Yeboah had been brought before the court and explained that the robber was “not a new person to the court.”

Justice Eyi King also said she was considering the pain, harm and unlawful damages that he had caused his victims.

She stated that even though she had heard his plea and concerns, considering the number of cases he had been involved in, he deserved to face the full rigours of the law; he would serve 45 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The court also ordered that the locally manufactured gun he used in his operations should be destroyed in the presence of the court’s registrar and that he should pay all the money he took from his victims during his robbery escapades.

Background

Around 7.30 p.m. on May 2, 2016, the convict robbed Madam Kate Sam Wilson at gunpoint at Ohene Djan, a suburb of Abesim, near Sunyani, together with an accomplice,

Even though he was arrested and sent to the Sunyani Regional Hospital for treatment due to the severe assault on him by a mob, Yeboah, who was on a 24-hour guard, escaped on May 5, 2016.

His action compelled the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command to give the police constable who was guarding him a 10-day ultimatum to produce him or face punishment.

Yeboah was, however, re-arrested 10 days later at his hideout at Kwatire, near Sunyani, together with two others who had offered him a place to hide.