A 35-year old ex-convict who conspired with others to rob two Ghanaian traders at the Aflao border has been jailed 95 years in hard labour by a Circuit Court at Aflao.
Coffie Tosu, alias Kofa, a mason pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy and robbery.The court presided over by Mr Francis Obiri, however, found him guilty and slapped him with 45 years each on two counts of robbery and five years for conspiracy to run concurrently.
His seven accomplices, names not available, are said to be on the run. Mr Stephen Wuni, a Police Inspector of Aflao told the court that the complainant Zaratu Abdul-Rahman and Ramatu Abdulai are Accra-based traders who purchase their supplies from Togo and Benin, while the accused, once jailed for stealing, lived at Aflao.
He said the complainants in August this year travelled to Benin and purchased a total of GHC 3,200 worth of assorted jewellery. They also had cash of GHC 400 each left on them.
Mr Wuni said the two arrived in Lome at about midnight on August 8, this year en-route Accra when the border was closed. He said in their bid to find a place to pass the night, they were approached by two young men who convinced them to lead them to continue to Ghana that night at a fee of GHC50.
Mr Wuni said after crossing the border through the beach, the men suggested that they would lead them to the commercial vehicle terminal so that they did not fall into the hands of �criminals� lurking around.
He said at a spot on their way, six men, including Tosu, who were wielding sharp implements, including knives, emerged from the dark and attacked and robbed the complainants of their goods, money and two cell phones.
Mr Wuni said the two young men who were assisting them fled together with the six attackers before a military patrol team attracted by the complainants� distress cries arrived.
He said the patrol team upon a hint arrested Tosu who was identified by the complainants as among their attackers. Mr Wuni said while Tosu was in custody he sent word through a visitor, who was a witness in the trial, to remove the stolen items from the room before a possible police search team arrived.
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