The Mankessim Circuit Court has sentenced a herbalist to 30 years imprisonment for robbery at Asuokor, near Breman-Asikuma in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of the Central Region.
The convict, John Awila, 24, also known as “Nana Kojo Agbeko,” claimed to be a reporter with Onua TV and Passion TV.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and pleaded for leniency, but the court presided over by Mrs Veronique Abena Praba Tetteh, convicted him for the offences.
The Attorney General is also preparing a docket to prosecute the convict for possible murder and illegal possession of firearms.
Detective Chief Inspector Alhassan Iddrisu, told the court that Mr Elijah Addo, a teacher, and the complainant, gave his taxicab to Mr Ishmael Assan, a driver to work and render sales.
The prosecution said the convict hired the driver to take him to Breman-Asikuma, but on reaching the Towoboase-junction at Breman Jamra, the convict instructed the driver to drive towards Towoboase.
However, when they passed the Asuokor, leading to Towoboase town, the convict asked the driver again to drive back to Asuokor.
The court heard that along the Asuokor stretch, the convict ordered the victim to branch through anunmotorable road, and told the driver to park the car and follow him to a nearby village where his mother lives.
According to the prosecution, they both took to the footpath and the convict pulled out a pistol from his bag, pointed at the driver and ordered him (driver) to surrender everything on him.
The prosecution said the driver surrendered his bag containing GH¢4400.00 and mobile phone, which is valued at GH¢1000.00 to the convict.
The convict, also took the ignition key of the vehicle from the victim and shot him (driver), and he (victim) bleed from the left eye.
The prosecution said the convict abandoned the victim and bolted with the car, but he (victim) managed to get to the main road, where he met an old woman.
The court heard that the old woman called some taxi drivers from Bremen-Jamra, and they (drivers) rushed the victim to the Our Lady of Grace Hospital at Bremen-Asikuma.
The prosecution said convict was arrested at Bremen-Brakwa while driving the taxi of which he had changed the colour to ash and also removed the number plate.
The police took the convict to his residence at Bremen-Asikuma where they found a pistol.
—GNA