An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced three persons accused of robbing founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madame Akua Donkor, to a total of 60 years in prison.
Yakubu Yussif, GFP Central Regional Chairman, Banabas Kayase, her personal driver and Abdul Razak Shaibu were dragged to the court after a complaint was made to the police that they had on December 30, 2016 robbed her of $30,000 while on her way to the airport.
Joy News reporter, Joseph Ackah-Blay was in court said all three pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and robbery.
On the said date, Madam Donkor was being driven to the Kotoka International Airport from Taifa to catch a flight to the United States of America.
The three suspects
She was in the company of Yusif and Kayase, who was driving.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Duuti Tuaruka, explained that Madam Donkor decided to make a stopover at her house before heading for the airport.
“On reaching Sowutuom, Shaibu, Joe and Nuamah, armed with guns, appeared on a motorbike behind the vehicle. As soon as Kayase spotted the armed men, he reduced the speed of the car and switched on double hazard to signal that Madam Donkor was in the car,’’ the Inspector Tuaruka said.
Kayase is said to have immediately parked the car and Shaibu, Joe and Nuamah attacked Madam Donkor.
“The robbers dragged Madam Donkor from the vehicle and snatched her travelling bag containing $30,000, a plane ticket, a Ghanaian passport, a voter’s ID card and GH¢2,000 and escaped,’’ the prosecution added.
Delivering the court’s decision on Tuesday, Justice Aboagye Tanoh said the testimonies of the accused persons were full of half truths and contradictions leaving the court with no other choice but to convict them for committing the offence.
They are each to serve 20 years for each count of the two charges. The sentences are to run concurrently. They are also to refund the remainder of the amount yet to be retrieved by the police.
Joe and Nuamah are on the run and are being pursued by the police.
