Kwabenya Escapees Get 5 Years In Jail

Two of the three suspects who escaped from the Kwabenya District Police Station in Accra while in custody have been sentenced to a total of five years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

They are Prince Osei, 25, aka Bebe, Scrap Dealer and Atta Kwadwo, 20 commercial driver’s mate.

The third accomplice- Kofi Darko, aka Kofi Duku, 25, trader, believed to have also escaped from police grips with the convicts has denied any wrong doing.

The trio, together with others, escaped from police custody when some armed men attacked the Kwabenya Police Station killing a police officer, Emmanuel Ashilivi, in the process in January.

The three had been dragged before the court alongside nine other persons believed to have aided them to escape from the police cells.

They are: Nancy Denta, 25, aka Awura Ama, trader; George Yeboah, 30, aka Akwesi Shower, Electrician; Prince Kofi Acheampong, aka Nana Owuo, 32, herbalist; Edward Lartey, 20, herbalist and Kofi Seshie, 28, driver.

The rest are George Sarbah, 23, driver; Elvis Owusu, 31, waiter; George Asante, 33, trader and Theophilius Bandah, 25.

It is the case of the prosecutor, Supt. K. Benpah that the nine, on January 21 this year at Kwabenya, did instigate and abet the three paddies to escape from lawful custody.

Sentence

In sentencing the duo, the judge, Aboagye Tandoh, said the court had taken into consideration the accused persons plea for mitigation.

He said the offences for which the two had been convicted emanated from the same action and that a heavier punishment was expected.

Mr. Tandoh however noted that “not all expectations are grounded in law” indicating that the court has to send a strong signal to society that such behaviours would not be countenanced.

He slapped the accused persons each with 30 months imprisonment and adjourned until February 26, 2018 a ruling on a bail application filed by three of the accused persons.

Earlier, George Asamaney, acting as a friend of the court urged the court to spare the convicts a custodial sentence because today February 14 was a Valentine’s Day which is a day of love.

He said the convicts only took advantage of the opportunity offered them to escape when the door was opened although unlawful.

Bail

Dela Blagoe, lawyer for two of the other accused persons in arguing for bail said “it is better to risk saving a guilty person than condemning an innocent person.”

He said his clients were not connected to the case stressing that Atta Kwadwo has told the police his clients are not part of the gang.

Supt. K. Benpah has nonetheless opposed the application for bail contending that the applicants when granted bail will not come and stand trial.

He stated that the prosecution was also yet to complete investigations in respect of some of the other accused persons.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson/ thePublisher