The Assin Kyerewere Circuit Court in the Assin South District of the Central Region, presided over by His Lordship Emmanuel Amoh-Yartey has sentenced three individuals into 50-years’ custody.
The convicts, two Ghanaians and a Nigerian, were convicted of attempted robbery at Wawase Semanhyia in the Assin North District.
They are, Francis Baidoo, a 30-year-old driver; Wisdom Aleki, a 24-year-old tricycle rider and Mohammed Baba, a 38-year-old Nigerian beautician.
According to the court’s verdict, Francis Baidoo and Wisdom Aleki were each sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to commit a crime and attempted robbery.
Mohammed Baba, on the other hand, received a 20-year prison sentence for conspiracy, causing harm, and attempted robbery.
This was after, they were found guilty of various charges related to the attempted robbery.
The case, presented by Chief Inspector Gilbert Abagna Anyongo, revealed that Francis Baidoo, a resident of Assin Wawase, had orchestrated the attempted robbery.
He recounts that on November 19, 2024, Baidoo together with Mohammed Baba, Wisdom Aleki, and another suspect who is still at large plan the robbery of Emmanuel Obese, a cocoa-purchasing clerk.
The convicts’ plan involved hiring a Toyota Vitz urban vehicle from Accra Mall to transport them to Assin Fosu, where they would execute their plan.
On November 21, 2024, Francis Baidoo instructed the driver to pick up Mohammed Baba and Wisdom Aleki at Kasoa and Fetteh Kakraba, respectively, and another suspect, Francis Larbi, at Lapaz.
The accused individuals arrived at Wawase Semanhyia around 1 am, allegedly wielding a short gun and other offensive weapons. However, their plan was foiled when a witness, who was returning home from night studies, spotted them and raised an alarm.
The convicts fled into the bush, but the community quickly organized a manhunt, leading to the arrest of Mohammed Baba and Larbi.
During the manhunt, Mohammed Baba and Larbi attacked commuters, inflicting knife wounds on Emmanuel Nti. Baba was eventually overpowered and arrested, while the other suspects managed to escape.
The police were informed, and an intensive patrol led by Inspector Samuel Holomah resulted in the arrest and arraignment of the other suspects.
Chief Inspector Anyongo said although suspect Francis Larbi is on the run, efforts are being made by the police to get him arrested to face the law.
