An Accra circuit court has sentenced a driver to 35 years imprisonment in hard labour for attempting to rob a cook.
Derrick Tetteh, together with his accomplice came out of their hideout when the complainant was on her way to work. They allegedly threatened her to hand over her belongings, which she refused and screamed for help.
He pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to commit crime, contrary to section 18(1) and section 149 of the criminal code 1960 (Act 29) before the court, presided over by Mr. Francis Obiri.
The underlining facts are that on April 7, 2013, at about 4:30am, the complainant was walking to her workplace when the convict, who was then hiding around, approached her and ordered her to hand over her bag to him.
The prosecutor, DSP P.A. Mokeh, told the court that the complainant refused to comply and as a result the convict held her dress and began struggling with her.
He said the accomplice of the convict also came out from his hideout with a cutlass to help the convict to snatch the complainant’s hand bag where in the process the convict hit the head of the complainant with a stick.
The prosecutor mentioned that the complainant then alarmed residents around by screaming. ‘The convict and his accomplice then took to their heels where they were given a hot chase. The convict was then arrested and handed over to the police”, he added.
Meanwhile, in another circuit court, a businessman and a mason have been granted bail after allegedly stealing a land rover vehicle valued USD 6000.
Alfred Annor and Joseph Hesse allegedly claimed ownership of the said car, which they left at the Korle-Gonno Total Filling Station due to a mechanical fault. The accused persons allegedly attempted to sell the vehicle to a third party whom they had promised to help obtain auctioned cars from the Osu Castle.
They were arrested by the police when the real owner of the vehicle showed up at the police station. They pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, deceiving public officer and impersonation before the court, presided over by Mrs. Patience Mills-Tetteh.
They were granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 with two sureties and are expected to re-appear before the court on May 7, 2013.
The facts are that on February 2012, the Korle-Bu Police received information that there was a Land Rover-Free Lander vehicle parked on the Korle Gonno Total Filling Station road towards the Methodist Church area and that the car seemed to be abandoned.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Charles Chester told the court that the Police proceeded to the scene with the informant, where they met second accused at the scene. Upon their arrival the second accused told them that the said vehicle belongs to the first accused person and that he had already called him to come to the scene.
According to him, the first accused person, therefore, called the police to say that the vehicle belongs to a Nigerian friend. He said in spite of claim of the first accused, the police still made efforts to tow the vehicle to the police station for the real owner to come and proof ownership and claim the vehicle.
“However, along the way, when the vehicle was being towed, the first accused notified the Police Chief Inspector towing the vehicle that he is a staff of National Security at the Castle Osu, which turned out to be false.
On March 31, 2013, the real owner of the vehicle called the station with the documents of the vehicle, according to him, he gave the said vehicle to his mechanic to work on, but on his way the vehicle again developed a mechanical fault so he left it at the initial location. By April 4, 2013, both accused person had been arrested by the police” he added.
Chief Inspector Chester mentioned that the second accused person in his cautioned statement denied knowledge of the theft of the vehicle and indicated that he acted on behalf of the first accused person since he claimed the vehicle was for his friend.
He further stated that the first accused person also in his cautioned statement confessed stealing the vehicle and that he planned the whole thing with the second accused person.
The Prosecutor emphasised that the first accused person upon his arrest led the police to Kaneshie where it was revealed he was about to sell to a buyer whom he had promised to get him an auctioned vehicle from the Osu Castle.