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The Asante Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced two soldiers to ten years of hard labor each for robbing and kidnapping a small-scale miner. Air Force Lance Corporals Alfred Mensah, 33, and Matthew Amoako, 28, denied conspiring to commit the crimes but were found guilty after a full trial.
Three accomplices, identified as Frimpong and Francis also soldiers and Francis Acheampong, a driver, remain at large. According to the prosecution, the group targeted miner Andrews Asante in Ametubuom, a suburb of Asiwa. In military uniform, the soldiers staged the robbery on November 25, 2023, using a rented Mitsubishi Pajero. They arrived at Asante’s residence at 1:30 a.m., banging on his gate and threatening him until he opened the door.
Brutal extortion and hostage-taking
Once inside, the gang assaulted Asante and demanded GH¢400,000. Unable to produce the full amount, he borrowed GH¢10,000 from his mother-in-law, who lived nearby. However, the robbers were unsatisfied and ransacked the house, seizing GH¢20,000 from the mother-in-law, GH¢40,000 from her room, GH¢15,000 from Asante, and GH¢7,000 from a friend who had come to help. They also took a motorbike ignition key to prevent pursuit.
Asante was then forced into the vehicle and held hostage. During the drive, Mensah searched him and took an additional GH¢4,500, bringing the total stolen to GH¢96,500. Police pursued the vehicle, but the suspects fled on foot after encountering a broken bridge. Local residents apprehended Mensah and Amoako in Anumso Town, while the other accomplices abandoned Asante and escaped.
Evidence and confession
The convicts later confessed, implicating their accomplices. Items including a body armor and stolen property were recovered. The court, presided over by Isaac Appeatu, delivered the ten-year sentences as a stern warning against abuse of military authority.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
