Unemployed Rastafarian jailed 25 years for robbery

Source: GNA - Twenty-eight year old Abdul Sadat Iddi on Monday wept uncontrollably at an Accra Circuit Court after he was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for robbing a banker at gun point at Baatsona in Accra.

Iddi, whilst being escorted by the Police to begin his prison term amidst weeping, pleaded with the trial judge Mr Aboagye Tandoh to have mercy on him.

“My Lord I beg you, My Lord please have mercy on me. Oh mother, please intervene,” he cried aloud in Ga, whiles his mother and other relations looked on helplessly.

The police had a hectic time escorting him from the Court, which was on a story building to the ground floor as he called on his relatives to intervene. 

Iddi, who was charged with conspiracy to commit crime and robbery, pleaded not guilty.

The Court, however, at the end of the trial discharged him on the conspiracy charge and convicted on the robbery charge.

Iddi and others now at large were said to have robbed Samuel Romulus Okine on the dawn of December 7, last year of his two HP Laptop computers, an Ipad with surf line Wi-Fi, two digital camera, and cash of GHC80.00, 300 dollars and 200 Euros.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Kofi Adu said the complainant, Mr Okine, is a banker residing at HFC estate, Community 18 Baatsona whilst the convict, unemployed lived at Ashiaman.

He said on December 7, last year, at about 0200 hour, whilst the complainant was in bed, he was attacked and held hostage by three men armed with pistols and a pump action gun.

Prosecution said the armed robbers used the complainant’s bed sheet to tie his face, ransacked his apartment and made away with items, including two laptops, Ipad, two cameras, and the cash.

Chief Inspector Adu said soon after the robbery incident, Mr Okine reported the matter to the firm where he bought the Surf line Wi-Fi to assist him track the robbers.

Later, prosecution said the Tema branch of the Surf line Company, called Mr Okine and told him that someone had brought his surf line Wi-Fi to them.

Mr Okine alerted the Police and some police officers were dispatched to accompany him to the firm and apprehended one Numo Gawusu, who had brought the Surf line Wi-Fi to the company to enable him to buy a chip.

When Gawusu was quizzed, he said it was Iddi, who sold the Surf line Wi-Fi to him at a cost of GHC90.00 and led the Police to Ashiaman where Iddi was arrested.

However, prosecution said Iddi told the Police that the item was brought to him by Sadick, Bedman and Kuntam to sell for them.

Iddi could not lead the Police to arrest those he mentioned.