Two soldiers, Lance Corporal (LAC) Alfred Mensah, 33, and Lance Corporal Matthew Amoako, 28, have been sentenced to ten years of hard labor each, for kidnapping and robbing a small-scale miner, Mr. Andrews Asante.
They are said to have made away with GHC96,500. During trial, both pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and kidnapping made against them.
However, after full trial, the Asante Bekwai Circuit Court found them guilty and convicted them.
Three of their accomplices only identified as Francis and Frimpong, both of whom are soldiers as well, and Francis Acheampong, a 41 year old driver, are still at large.
The detective in charge of the case, Detective Chief Inspector Eric Twum, in presenting the case before the court, mentioned that the victim, Mr. Asare, was a small-scale miner who resides in Ametubuom, near Asiwa.
According to the Detective, at the time that the crime took place, both soldiers were stationed in Accra and Tamale, but on a course in Accra.
He also mentioned that the driver, Francis Acheampong, who worked with a car rental company, and the two other accomplices, Francis and Frimpong – both soldiers, were at large.
According to the prosecution, Mr. Acheampong, on 25 November, 2023, aware of the planned robbery, took them to the company’s secretary, on the pretense of needing a car for an arrest operation in Konongo.
They were given a car and Mr. Acheampong was assigned to drive. They departed from Accra around 2:00 PM and picked up Francis who was in uniform, and proceeded to Ametubuom.
The assailants then got Frimpong as a guide to the town since he claimed to be a native. They were led to Mr. Asante’s house and attacked him, as well as his friend Kwabena, who came assist him after hearing of the incident from Mr. Asante’s wife.
They coerced the victim into giving them GHC400,000 after beating him. Then they asked for more, but the victim was unable to provide so he borrowed a sum of GHC10,000 from his mother-in-law.
The assailants were still not satisfied and forced the woman to give them more. Under their pressure, she provided GHC20,000 more in a black polythene bag.
They ransacked the room of the mother-in-law when they realized they could get more money from her. They seized GH40,000 in the process, and searched Mr. Asare’s room, taking another GHC15,000. They made away with GHC7,000 from Kwabena and confiscated his motorbike ignition key to prevent him from chasing them.
The prosecution told the court that the assailants got a total of GHC96,500, and forcibly put Mr. Asante in their vehicle, while they searched him and took another GHC4,500 from his pocket.
After their operation, the Police in the area found out about the incident and ordered them to stop, but the assailants ignored them and sped off.
According to the Detective, the police opened fire on the vehicle but they refused to stop, only stopping at a broken bridge at Anwiam. They fled into the forest, still holding Mr. Asante hostage. The residents had heard of the incident and were on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
Around 4:30 AM, Mensah and Amoako went to Anumso town, to find a new vehicle but they were apprehended by the townsfolk, and handed over to the police.
The two accomplices, Francis and Frimpong, abandoned the victim and fled into the forest upon realizing that their companions had not returned.
The prosecution mentioned that the two apprehended soldiers admitted to the crime and identified their accomplices. During interrogation, Mensah claimed that their booty had been taken by the community members who arrested them.
Further investigations revealed a law enforcement body armor, the motorbike ignition key and Mr. Asante’s walking aid, from the forest which served as the assailants’ hideout.
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