Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has defended the 70-year prison sentence he handed to notorious armed robber Ayi Ayeetey, popularly known as Ataa Ayi, describing the decision as guided by both the law and the need to protect the public.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie recalled the high-profile case from his early years on the bench.
“The judges and magistrates are trained and follow sentencing guidelines, but sometimes they have to go beyond them. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years — Atta Ayi,” he said.
He explained that while sentencing guidelines provide a general framework, judges occasionally need to exercise discretion based on the circumstances of a case. Public protection and deterrence, he noted, can justify harsher penalties.
“I gave him 70 years. And what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family will be the first he will attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he said with a chuckle, drawing laughter from the audience.
Ataa Ayi was once described by police as Ghana’s most dangerous armed robber. Authorities launched a massive manhunt, with billboards displaying his image across several regions.
He was eventually arrested in Teshie Tsui Bleo, a suburb of Accra, following months of pursuit by security agencies. His girlfriend, suspected of aiding him, was also taken into custody.
Police investigations revealed that Ataa Ayi led a network of armed robbers responsible for multiple violent attacks in Accra, targeting victims for cash, vehicles, jewellery, and other valuables. Several people were reportedly injured during his operations.
He and his gang members were convicted of multiple counts of armed robbery and sentenced in 2005, bringing an end to one of the most intense police pursuits in Ghana’s criminal history.
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