An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced two former security officers and a civilian to 30 years in prison each for their roles in a robbery attack.
The convicted persons included Michael Baffour, a dismissed soldier and driver; Isaac Amejor, also a dismissed police officer and driver; and an unemployed civilian, Saddick Muntakilu.
The trio was found guilty of robbing a nurse of her iPhone 11 Pro Max and cash amounting to GHC40,700 in 2023.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place on March 2, 2023, in Adjiriganor, Greater Accra Region, shortly after the victim had withdrawn money from a bank.
The accused persons who pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery, were later found guilty by the court presided over by Evelyn Asamoah. They were subsequently sentenced to 30 years on both counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.
In her ruling, the judge lamented about the rising number of crimes committed by former security officers, stating that such actions posed a significant threat to national peace and security. She emphasized the premeditated nature of the crime and the lack of remorse displayed by the accused, justifying the imposition of a harsh sentence to deter similar offences.
Lead Prosecutor ASP Emmanuel Haligah urged the court to consider the severity of the crime and the suffering endured by the victim, stressing the need for retributive justice. He argued that security personnel, who are trained to protect citizens, should face stiffer penalties when involved in criminal activities.
In contrast, Raphael Kofi Bonin, representing Muntakilu, appealed for a more lenient sentence aimed at reforming the accused.
BRIEF FACTS
According to the prosecution, on March 2, 2023, the victim had withdrawn GHC 40,700 from the Adjiriganor branch of Ghana Commercial Bank for a housing project. While on her way to Ashaley Botwe School Junction, the three accused men, dressed in uniforms, forcibly removed her from her vehicle and dragged her into their taxi.
They then drove her to a location near the University of Ghana Medical Centre, where they threatened to kill her life if she called for help. The victim was handcuffed, tasered, and robbed of her bag, containing GHC 40,700 and an iPhone 11 Pro Max valued at GHC 9,500, before being abandoned in nearby bushes.
Despite her ordeal, the victim managed to escape with the help of some bystanders and reported the incident to the Legon Police Station.
Following her petition to the Director General of CID, the accused persons were arrested on March 28, 2023, along the Tema Motorway.
A search revealed military and police uniforms belonging to Baffour and Amejor, respectively. Further investigations confirmed their dismissals from their respective security roles.
In an identification parade in April 2023, the complainant identified all three as her attackers, and they later confessed to the crime in their caution statements, witnessed by an independent observer.
