We Went To Steal But Not To Rob-Convicts Tells Court

Three persons were on Monday sentenced to 100 years jail term by an Accra Circuit Court for robbing and stabbing two persons with screw drivers at Greda Estates at Teshie Nungua. Charged with conspiracy and robbery, the three accused persons pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri however after trial found Dominic Kofi Anim, a mobile phone repairer, Stanley Goka, unemployed and Yaw Berko a driver guilty. The convicts claimed they only went to steal and not to rob. On the charge of conspiracy, the three accused persons were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each while Anim 35 and Goka, 33 were to serve 40 years imprisonment each on the charge of robbery. Sentences were to run concurrently. The court however found Berko, 32, not guilty on the charge of robbery and discharged him. According to the court Berko did not take part in the robbery rather sat in a waiting taxi cab to convey his accomplices. Sentencing them, the trial judge noted that Anim and Goka were ex-convicts who had escaped from lawful custody and were already serving three years imprisonment. According to the judge, he had realised that Anim and Goka had not changed hence needed to be offered an enhanced sentence to serve as deterrent to others although they had pleaded for leniency. While Prosecution called four witnesses to make out its case, the convicts who were without lawyers called no witnesses. Before sentences were handed down, they pleaded for leniency saying they did not go to the house of Mr Alex Ansong Danso to rob him but to steal. According to them, they decided to go and steal after the complainant and his household had left for church. However when they embarked on their operation on April 3, 2011, they found the complainant and his son in the house. DSP Blagodzi said on April 3, 2011, at about 11:00 am the complainant Mr Danso was lying in his sofa at the main hall when he heard an unusual noise. When he opened his eyes he saw two armed men with screws drivers. The armed men asked him to surrender his monies otherwise they would kill him. Prosecution said Mr Danso led them into his bedroom and pointed out where his money and set of jewelry were hidden. A struggled however ensued between them and Anim and Goka stabbed the complainant and son in the head and rib respectively. Prosecution said the complainant raised an alarm and Goka and Anim attempted to escape by scaling over the wall. Berko however waited for them in a taxi. The convicts made away with a set of jewelry costing GH 3,000 cedis and unspecified amount of money. However Anim was arrested by witnesses in the case and handed over to the Police and he mentioned Goka and Berko as his accomplices who were also arrested.