The Ho Circuit Court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 19 years imprisonment in hard labour for attacking and robbing a pregnant woman of her cash and cellular phone.
Paul Avortide, alias “Tinted,” was convicted on his own plea of guilt by the Court presided over by Mr Osman Abdul Hakeem.
His accomplice is one Harmony Nbonu, 23, also known as “Arab Money”, who was acquitted and discharged by the Court.
Avortide has since been handed over to the Ho Regional Prison authorities to begin his prison term.
The Police told the Court that Avortide, on May 21, 2025, at about 0400 hours, at Tsikpota near New Housing, Ho, wielding a machete, threatened Madam Ogechi Chidiebere, a Nigerian, the complainant and victim, resident in Ho.
Avortide robbed the victim of her GH¢3,000.00 and Tecno Spark 30c mobile phone valued GH¢2,500.00. She was on her way to antenatal care at the Ho Municipal Hospital.
Prosecution said on June 19, 2025, at about 1800 hours, the Regional Police Intelligence team arrested Nbonu at the Ho main Market, in possession of the stolen phone.
During interrogations, he named Avortide as the one who sold the phone to him at GH¢ 850.00.
Police said coordinated efforts between them and the Nbonu led to the arrest of Avortide at Matse, a suburb of Ho.
The Court was told that after Police investigations, Avortide was charged with the offence of robbery, Contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences ACT. 1960 (ACT 29) as amended by the Criminal Offences (Amendment) ACT, 2003 (ACT 646) whilst Nbonu was charged with the offence of dishonestly receiving Contrary to Section 146 of the Criminal Offences ACT, 1960 (ACT 29).
However, after the trial, Nbonu was found innocent.
Source: GNA