Two robbers who operate around the Ejura Municipality in the Ashanti Region have been sentenced to 65 years imprisonment each by a Kumasi circuit court for conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery.
Alim Yaao Dawuda a porter, and Monzil Alhassan, a mechanic both pleaded not guilty to the robbery charges leveled against them.
A third accused Mohammed Yussif, a herbalist was acquitted by the court due to his ill health.
Giving the facts of the case, a State Attorney Richmond Osei-Hwere said the complainant who is a business man lived in the same neighborhood with the accused persons at Gonja Line in Ejura.
He said around half past one on the dawn of May 26, 2009, the complainant while asleep in his room heard a gunshot on his compound, and alarmed, could not sleep again.
He said a few minutes later, he heard a loud knock on his door but did not open; infuriated, the prosecutor noted, the accused persons then fired warning shots and ordered him to open the door or else they would force it open.
“The complainant ignored their threats while they fired several warning shots but finally the first accused person fired at the door and pellets of the gun hit the right palm of the complainant while e tried to open the door”, Mr. Osei-Hwere stated.
The prosecutor continued that the first accused threatening the complainant with death, ordered him to surrender all his money. The complainant he noted then told his wife to bring all the money they had.
He noted that after collecting an amount of GH¢680 Alim Yaao Dawuda, the first accused was not satisfied and with the booty and shot him directly on his leg, signaling his colleagues to flee from the house.
The three were identified by the complainant during an identification parade organised by the Mampong Divisional Police
STORY: FROM JAMES APPIAKORANG AND LUIS ARTHUR YEBOAH, KUMASI