Three robbers, who snatched a tax and smeared hot ointment into the eyes and nostrils of a driver, have been jailed a total of 88 years imprisonment by an Accra circuit court.

They are Kwabena Bandoh, 32 and a car washer, Kinsley Adjei, 22 and electrician, and Alex Oppong, 22 and dispatch rider.

Kwabena, Kingsley and Alex were jailed today by the court, presided over by His Honour Isaac Addo. The court found them of conspiracy to commit crime, to wit robbery and robbery.

On conspiracy to commit crime, namely robbery,  Kwabena was jailed 14 years while Kingsley and Alex were slapped with 15 years each. The same sentence was applied to the offence robbery, which will ran concurrently, as ordered by the court.

The offence was committed at Mallam Gbawe, close to a Police Station at about 12:40am on June 21, 2023.

The court was told by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer that the victim, James Andoh, is the complainant and a resident of Weija.

According to the prosecutor, Kwabena and Kingsley were residing at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle while Oppong was living at Ablekuma.

He said on the stated date the complainant was in-charge of Toyota Vitz taxi with registration number GW 5160-23 and the convicts engaged  his services from Odorkor to Mallam-Gbawe Police Station.

The prosecutor said while they way to the Police Station, they were stopped at a Police Snap check and during the search on the car, the convict quickly told the Police on duty that they were going to the Gbawe Police Station for a case. 

They were permitted to go but upon reaching the  Gbawe Police Station, the convicts redirected the taxi driver to take a different course on the right but the complainant refused and rather took left turn.

He was quickly attacked by the convicts, by being subjected to severe beating including slapping and strangling with a rope. 

The driver also fought back but in the course of the struggle, the convicts smeared ointment on the complainant’s face and insert same into his eyes and nostrils to enable them to overpower him. 

Kwabena, Kingsley and Alex tightened the rope around the complainant’s neck and pulled him out of the car and abandoned him to his fate.

While the driver become unconscious, Kwabena drove off the car to Circle and parked it behind the Ghana Commercial Bank to look for a buyer. 

On the same day, the complainant managed to make a report of robbery of a car and causing unlawful harm with the Gbawe Police Station. After reporting, he was issued with a Police Medical Report to go for treatment. 

The complainant later led the police to the crime scene and displayed how the incident happened.

The police retrieved the complainant’s slippers form the crime scene and on the same day, the National Police Intelligence Directorate of Police Headquarters received information that the taxi has been spotted at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.

Base on this, personnel from the Directorate were dispatched to the scene and Kwabena and Kingsley were arrested in the act of selling the car.

Thereafter, the convicts and the stolen car were Taken to the Greater Accra Regional CID for investigation. 

The duo admitted the offences in their cautioned statements and stated that they didn’t commit the crime alone but had a help.

On July 1, 2023, the Directorate tracked their accomplice, arrested him from his hideout and was handed over to the Accra Regional CID.

Kwame and Kingsley identified the 23-year old Alex to the police, as their gang leader.

After investigation the convicts were charge and arraigned before the court.