The Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a driver to eight years imprisonment in hard labour for attempting to kidnap a father and his daughter.
Godfred Ayittey, convict, denied conspiring with Wang Liang in preparation to kidnap the father and daughter, for ransom.
Wang is currently at large.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Emmanuel Nyamekye said that Richard Asomaning, a witness, reported to the police at Tema that Ayittey, contacted him (witness) through phone to engage in kidnapping.
The prosecution told the court presided over by Mrs Afua Owusua that Asomaning also reported that the driver asked him (witness) to contact a competent driver for the operation.
DSP Nyamekye said Asomaning feigned interest in the operation, and forwarded copies of his driver’s license and Ghana card as well as that of Peter Ofoe Agbovie, a friend, to another witness, who had contacted the convict.
The prosecution said witnesses requested a meeting with the convict to know, who their victim or victims were.
DSP Asomaning said the convict mentioned the victims to the witnesses as Mr Joseph K. Horgle, owner of J. K. Horgle Transport and Company Limited, at Kpone, and his daughter Elinam, Deputy Managing Director of the company.
The court heard that Ayittey never met the witnesses in-person, but only communicated with them on phone.
DSP Nyamekye said Tema police sought the assistance of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to investigate the case.
The prosecution said it emerged that the witnesses had opened communication with the convict and a WhatsApp group platform was created by the convict for the operation.
The court heard that Ayittey provided GH¢50.00 to Asomaning to commence surveillance on the victims and initial photographs of the company’s premises were taken and sent to the convict.
Agbovie, DSP Nyamekye said was asked by the convict to rent a vehicle, whilst he (convict) procured guns for the operation.
The prosecution said when the convict was tracked and arrested, he admitted the offence and indicated that Wang, a Chinese, he worked with at DADA Foods, engineered the kidnapping. —GNA