A 22-year-old welder has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Asante Akropong Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District for robbery at Asaase Bokankye, near Akropong.
In the case presided over by Gloria Mensha Bonsu, Williams Amoateng pleaded guilty and was convicted on his plea by the court.
Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Evans Baaba Ayimbisah told the court that the complainant, Blessing Owusu, is a tricycle rider and resident of Atwima Agogo. The convict, Amoateng, and his accomplice, identified only as Jolley, who is currently at large, reside at Asaase Bokankye.
On February 25, 2025, at about 8:00 p.m., Owusu was operating his tricycle (commonly known as pragia), with registration number M-2023-AS 2221, as part of his routine transport business in Abuakwa and its surrounding areas.
Amoateng and his accomplice engaged Owusu’s services to transport them to Asaase Bokankye. However, Amoateng ordered the complainant to stop during the journey, and he complied.
According to the prosecution, the two men alighted from the tricycle, picked up a stick and a stone, and threatened to harm Owusu if he refused to hand over his tricycle, valued at GH¢46,000, along with his day’s earnings of GH¢750.
The criminals took the vehicle and cash and fled the scene.
On February 27, 2025, Owusu spotted Amoateng at Asaase Bokankye and raised an alarm. With the assistance of bystanders, Amoateng was apprehended and handed over to the Pokukrom Police.
During interrogation, Amoateng admitted to the crime in his caution statement, revealing that he had sold the stolen tricycle to an individual at Kumasi-Alabar. meanwhile, when police accompanied him to the location, he was unable to identify the buyer.
Following investigations, he was charged with robbery and arraigned before the court, where he was found guilty and sentenced accordingly.
