<<Print>>The Accra Circuit Monday morning sentenced five people to a total of 150 years in prison for conspiring to rob an employee of Koala shopping mall in Accra.
The robbers Stanley Obaliko and Okoe Quarcoe were sentenced to 39 years and 35 years respectively while Gilbert Osabutey, a supervisor at koala was sentenced to 28 years imprisonment.
Two security men at Koala, Michael Edor Ahiataku and Frederick Sedro Kwame were also sentenced to 28 and 20 years respectively.
The five individuals were convicted for conspiracy while the two robbers were also found guilty additional charges of robbery.
Obaliko, who shot the victim in the case, Lydia Horsu was further sentenced to one year and 10 months for unlawful possession of ammunition and causing harm.
Sentencing the five individuals, the presiding judge, Mr Aboagye Tandoh said the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt to establish the guilt of the five individuals.
The case attracted nationwide attention following the bravery of a taxi driver who foiled the robbery attempt.
The taxi driver knocked the robbers with his taxi whilst they were escapaing from the robbery scene. He was awarded a new taxi by koala and a house by the presidency.
Facts
On January 6, this year, Osabutey, Ahiataku and Kwame hatched a plan to rob the Shopping Centre and sought the assistance of the two others, now at large, who also recruited Obaliko and Quarcoe to carry out the act.
On January 9, at about 8am the complainant went to the Koala Shopping branch at Cantonments, but she decided to pick the Company’s invoice and voucher to audit them and left for the head office at Airport.
On seeing the complainant leave the office, Osabutey alerted the accused persons through a phone call and Obaliko and Quarcoe boarded a BMW motor bike and trailed the complainant to the American Embassy area at Cantonments.
The Prosecution said Obaliko, who was then the pillion rider, alighted, drew out a pistol and pointed it at the complainant and ordered her to surrender her handbag.
Chief Supt. Tuaruka said Ms Horsu refused to comply and raised an alarm.
He said this infuriated Obaliko who pushed the complainant down and shot her twice in her thigh and calf, after which he (Obaliko) and Quarcoe sped off.
A taxi driver, who witnessed the incident, chased them with his vehicle and hit their motor bike, leading to their arrest.
Investigations led to the arrest of the other conspirators.
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