Two persons, Godwin Sampana and Kelvin Avio have been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for robbing their victim of his Samsung Note 3 mobile phone worth, GH�1,800.
According to the police, after the arrest of the first accused person for snatching the mobile phone from the owner, the second accused, Kelvin Avio damaged the windscreen of a car parked nearby, when he threw stones at the owner of the phone and her sympathizers.
Both accused persons are facing charges of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery, whilst Kelvin is also facing an additional charge of unlawful damage.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges leveled against them when they appeared before the court, presided over by Mr. Francis Obiri, on Monday.
The judge, however, found them guilty and sentenced them to ten years on each account. Kelvin Avio would serve an additional five years for unlawful damage.
But a criminal lawyer, Mr. George Asimani, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, saying �my lord I pray you give them an opportunity to go there, (prison) to reform and come back as good citizens.�
He told the court that, the long term sentence does not help because it �only makes young criminals come back as hardened criminals�.
Chief Superintendent Duuti Tauruki, the prosecutor told the court that the complainants in the case were Mamata Mamudu, an Immigration officer and Daniel Kofi Oppong, a pastor, all residents of Achimota, in Accra.
On May 23, 2014, Mamata Mamudu was on her way to see a friend at the Ridge passport office and walking along the road side with her Samsung note 3 in her hand.
He said the convicts, on Yamaha motor bike No. M-14-GR 2604 rode the bike close to the complainant and slowed down. �The first accused person, who is the pillion rider, violently snatched the phone from her and attempted to run away.�
Mr. Duuti Tauruki told the court that the complainant pushed them down and the first accused was arrested, whilst the second accused managed to run to the other side of the road and threw stones at Mamata and her sympathizers.
One of the stones hit the windscreen of an unregistered Hyundai Santafe vehicle belonging to the second complainant, Daniel Kofi Oppong, causing damage to it.
The first accused was handed over to the police with the motor bike, whilst the second accused was arrested upon the help of one Adams Tia, who later came to the police station to claim ownership of the motorbike.
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