From 50 to 40yrs: Judge reduces bible-stealing convicts’ sentences out of sympathy

The Presiding Judge of the Accra Circuit Court, Mr Francis Obiri, on Monday reduced the sentences of two convicts from 50 to 40 years for robbing a stationery dealer.

That was when Robert Adzika and Peter Asare who were being escorted out of the courtroom to begin their sentences, wailed, with one of them calling on the judge to temper justice with mercy and consider his little child and reduce the sentence.

Touched by the cries, the judge called them back to the courtroom and reduced the sentence.

They were found guilty of charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery.

Convicts Adzika and Asare are each to serve 15 years for conspiracy and 20 years for robbery.

The sentences are to run concurrently.
Facts of the case
Presenting the Superintendent E. Afful told the court, the complainant was a dealer in stationery with a shop at Teshie Me Accra, while Adzik, a scrap dealer, and Asare, a motor repairer live in Ashaiman.

He said about 9:45am on February 6, 2014, the complainant was in her shop carrying a handbag  containing a purse, a comb, baby’s three dresses as well as a Bible, a pair of sandals and Ghc 60.

The convicts, who were on a motorbike suddenly parked in front of the shop.

Asare waited on the bike while Asare got off, stormed the shop. Inside the shop, he walked around pretending to buy something but voilently snatched the complainant’s bag.

He immediately joined Asare on the bike and sped off. Their bad luck was a moving vechicle which crossed their bike resulting in the two falling off.

Passers-by arrested the two after they heard the complainant raise alarm. The items were retrieved and the two sent to the police station.

 Judgement
Delivering the judgement, Mr. Obiri said armed robbery was becoming too rampant in the country and so the perpetrators should not be harboured in society.

He said miscreants should be separated from society to enable law-abiding citizens to carry out their legitimate duty with harassment.

He appealed to the youth to find something useful, profitable and legitimate to do instead of engaging in robbery.