A convicted felon, Yaw Asante Agyekum who was tried and sentenced together with infamous armed robber, Raymond Aryee Ayeetey popularly known as Ataa Ayi has been acquitted by the Court of Appeal. Agyekum, who was serving a 35-year prison term for conspiracy, was acquitted by the appellate court, following an appeal of his sentence.
Yaw Asante Agyekum was a motorbike repairer for Ataa Ayi and his gang. He was charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and tried together with Ataa. He was sentenced to 35 years and has been in custody since December 2002, and has since served more than 22 years.
Meanwhile, Ataa Ayi the main culprit, is serving a 160 year jail term. Lawyer for the appellant Bernard George Shaw, on the last adjourned date, insisted on his client’s innocence, and said Asante Agyekim was arrested merely because of his association with Ataa Ayi as his motorbike repairer.
Mr Shaw believes his client was wrongly sentenced to prison because he was not legally represented then. During the ruling Thursday June 5, the Court of Appeal held that after a careful consideration of the evidence before it, the prosecution failed to give enough evidence to warrant the conviction and sentencing of Yaw Asante Agyekum.
The Court accordingly set aside the conviction and further acquitted and discharged him. His lawyer George Bernard Shaw said his client was arrested merely because of his association with Ataa Ayi as his motorbike repairer.
Mr Shaw believes his client was wrongly sentenced to prison because he was not legally represented then.
