Court Jails Blacksmith 15 Years For Robbery

A 28-year-old blacksmith who led a gang to rob traders under the Kwame Nkrumah Circle overhead bridge has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court. The gang made away with four mobile phones and an unspecified amount of money. Wahab Salifu aka Van Dam was found guilty on the charges of conspiracy and robbery. His accomplice Yahaya Haruna was however acquitted by the court for lack of evidence. The case of the prosecution was that the complainants were trader at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, who sell mobile phones and jeans trousers. At about 23:45 hours on November 10, 2008 the four complainants were in an enclosed space watching television when a group of young men led by Salifu invaded the place and asked them to surrender their mobile phones and monies. Armed with machetes, Salifu and his gang made away with four mobile phones and unspecified amount of money. One of the complainants, Desmond Botah who resisted the attack was beaten severely. A report was however made to the Police leading to the arrest of Salifu and Haruna.