The Ashanti Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 38-year-old car snatcher, Yaw Adu Agyekum, popularly known as 18, to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour.
Yaw Adu Agyekum is a mason by profession.
The suspect pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and robbery.
His accomplices included Kwadwo Gyebi, alias Acheampong, a convict, and another now deceased.
Detective Chief Inspector Eric Twum provided the facts to the court presided over by Mr Isaac Apiatu, Mr Francis Osei Mensah, the complainant, is a cab driver and resides near Fomena in Old Ayaase.
Agyekum also lived at Nsuaem near Asiwa.
According to Detective Chief Inspector Twum, Agyekum, Gyebi, and the deceased hired Mensah to take them to Abosamso at about 16:30 on March 7, 2023.
At a location between Bodwesango and Abosamso, Gyebi and the others pulled out knives, threatening to attack and stab Mensah if he didn’t stop the taxi and turn it up to them.
The group committed their threat by slitting Mensah’s left thumb, causing an extensive wound that bled profusely.
Because he feared for his life, Mensah yielded and was hauled out of the car by Gyebi and the others. Then they tied him up and hid him in a nearby bush before driving off.
A passing taxi driver acquaintance, who helped Mensah escape the gang, called the police at Tebeso No. 2, where the gang was later apprehended.
When the police ordered them to stop, the group disobeyed and tried to run the officers over with their car.
As the police opened fire on the car, the yet-to-be-identified robber-driver was shot and later died at Tebeso Health Clinic.
The prosecution said Gyebi was arrested, but Agyekum managed to escape.
Detective Chief Inspector Twum said Gyebi mentioned Agyekum as his accomplice during interrogation and disclosed that they planned the robbery at Agyekum’s house at Nsuaem.
Gyebi was put before court on March 10, 2023, and was sentenced to 20 years in hard labour.
Police intelligence led to the arrest of Agyekum from his hideout at Abirem on June 02, 2023.
He also confessed to his involvement in the crime.
After investigations, Agyekum was charged with the offences and put before court.