Kingsley Ibe, a Nigerian scrap dealer, was yesterday sentenced to 30 years� imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for robbing the property and cash of workers of Petrobay Filling station in Accra.
He was said to have conspired with three others, now at large, to cause damage to a metal door of the filling station valued at GH�700.
Ibe pleaded not guilty to the offence but the court, presided over by Francis Obiri, found him guilty and sentenced him accordingly.
Delivering the sentence, the trial judge expressed worry about the increasing rate of robbery attacks in the country, insisting that ordinary Ghanaians must go about their business without fear.
He said harsh sentences must be meted out to those who rob to serve as deterrents to other miscreants.
Prosecuting, DSP Patrick Morkeh said the complainant in the case Kemuel Asare is the manager of the said filling station at New Bortianor in Weija while the accused person is a Nigerian scrap dealer living at Neoplan Station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
He said at about 2am on April 1, one Samuel Twumasi Addo, a security man of the filling station, saw two young men approaching the station in darkness, adding that he approached them and posed several questions to them.
DSP Morkeh stated that suddenly one of the armed robbers pulled a gun and threatened to shoot Addo while the other three subjected the security man to severe beatings, tied him and pushed him into one of the lubricant holes, which contained water.
He said the rest of the armed robbers invaded the station, broke into the mall and attacked the rest of the attendants, who heard the shouts of Addo and came to his rescue.
DSP Morkeh averred that the armed robbers also tied the attendants and took GH�700 and two mobile phones.
He said the Weija police responded to the distress call but the armed robbers, upon seeing the police, fled through a swampy place.
The police, after a search in the area, arrested Ibe.
The prosecutor said one Comfort Damalie, a pump attendant, claimed ownership of the Nokia phones found in the possession of the accused person.
He said the accused person, in his caution statement, admitted the offence.
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