Sentenced for robbery: 27-year old gets 27 years

An Accra Circuit Court, on Wednesday sentenced Courage Dodzi Misho, a 27 year-old Driver to 27 years imprisonment for robbing one Abdul Bassit Ibrahim Munagah, of his Honda Pilot car and other belongings at gun point. Courage was put before the court together with one Alhassan Yussif, and Aminu Bawa, for conspiring and robbing the victim of his car worth $56,100.00. The accused and his team also took away one iPhone 7 plus worth $1,000.00; an iPod worth $1,000.00; one Apple Watch worth $800.00; a Gold Chain worth $3,500.00; Spectacles worth $50.00, and a Garage remote control, worth GHc2,500.00; and other personal effects, which were in the car.

He pleaded guilty to both charges of conspiracy and robbery, whiles his accomplices pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court presided over by Mr Aboagye Tandoh, however convicted him on his own plea in respect of the robbery charges, while that of the conspiracy charge was deferred. The court, in sentencing said it took into consideration, the convict’s plea for mitigation and the two and half months spent in custody, the pivotal role he played in the robbery, and his readiness to pull the trigger during the operation.

The court in sentencing also considered the gravity of the offence upon which the sentence must be deterrent enough. While Alhassan and Aminu were however, remanded to reappear on March 8.

The facts of the case as presented by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mawunyo Nanegbe, were that the complainant, Abdul Bassit is an IT Project Manager residing at Oshiyieye, while Courage and Alhassan are drivers, and Aminu, a computer technician. He said, three other accomplices Isaac Dadze, Michael Nii Cato and Kweku Ahale are all at large. He said on November 25, 2017 at about 1930 hours the complainant returned home but saw his gateman struggling with some young men at the entrance of his house.

Before he realised, Courage who was armed with an AK 47 assault rifle and one other also armed with a locally made pistol, were standing by his car. The prosecution said they attacked the complainant together with his wife who was also on board the vehicle and ordered them to surrender everything in their possession. The complainant initially was reluctant in obeying the directive, so Courage fired at him but the gun misfired. The other accomplice with the pistol also fired a shot.

DSP Nanegbe said the complainant submitted to their demands, and Courage took control over the vehicle, which contained the above listed items, whilst the other three accomplices now at large, got on board and they drove away.

He told the court that on November 30, 2017, police intelligence led to the arrest of Courage, who had brought the complainant’s iPhone 7 plus and the iPod to be unlocked at an internet café at Kwabenya. Courage led the police to his hide out at Medie near Korleman, where the complainant’s apple watch and spectacles were retrieved together with two facemasks.

He admitted his involvement in the robbery and mentioned Isaac, Michael and Kweku as his accomplices. The prosecution said, Courage also mentioned Alhassan as the one who encouraged and instigated them to rob, as he took the car to Tamale, to sell.

On December 31, 2017; Alhassan was arrested at Nsawam with one Toyota RAV4 vehicle in another case. DSP Nanegbe told the court that during interrogation, he confessed that prior to the robbery, Aminu instructed him to go to Accra and that there would be a robbery of the said vehicle so that he could bring the vehicle to him in Tamale after the robbery. He said on January 15, an identification parade was conducted and a witness identified Courage as the person who was wielding the AK47 rifle and also drove off the complainant’s vehicle, on the day of the robbery.

On January 22, Aminu was arrested at his hideout at Agbobgloshie where he admitted that Alhassan brought the vehicle to him in Tamale and that the vehicle was in his house. According to the prosecution, the car was later retrieved, impounded and now with the Tamale Regional Police Headquarters.