Bekwai Circuit Court jails three for gold buyer robbery

A Circuit Court in Bekwai has handed lengthy prison sentences to three men for their roles in the robbery of a gold buyer in the Ashanti Region, after a scheme allegedly orchestrated by one of the victim’s trusted associates unraveled.

The court sentenced Abdul Ganiu and David Mensah to 22 years each for robbery, while Eric Afful received a 20-year sentence for assisting in the crime. The sentences were imposed after the court found that the trio worked together to target and rob the victim of cash, gold and other valuables.

Prosecutors told the court that the robbery was planned after Afful, who regularly transported the complainant on his motorbike, sought help from the two others to obtain money to settle a personal debt and recover a seized motorcycle.

Investigators said the group took advantage of the complainant’s trust in Afful, luring him to a secluded area near Adansi Akwaaku under the guise of a routine trip. There, the victim was allegedly attacked and dispossessed of a backpack containing cash, gold and equipment used in his business, while his mobile phone was also taken during the ordeal.

Police investigations led to the arrest of the suspects a day after the incident. Officers recovered portions of the stolen money, the victim’s iPhone and the backpack. However, the gold reported stolen during the robbery was not recovered.

The court convicted the three after hearing evidence linking them to the attack, bringing an end to a case that highlighted the risks faced by gold traders operating in mining communities.

Source: CNR