ANOTHER ARMED ROBBER CONFESSES, PLEADS FOR FORGIVENESS (MIRROR, LEAD STORY)

From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

A suspected armed robber who was standing trial at a Kumasi High Court for robbing a Kumasi based businesswoman together with three accomplices at gunpoint made startling revelations in court.
The robber not only confessed his crime and explained the role he played in the robbery attack, but also promised to turn a new leaf by leading a descent lifestyle after serving his punishment.
Fredrick Owusu Kodua, who was convicted to serve 15 years jail term after changing his plea from not guilty to guilty, told the court that he received a booty of GH¢250.00 from the GH¢1500 they robbed from their victim at a gunpoint.
After changing his plea, the convict also told the Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice K.A, Pobih, that they diverted the route from the Neoplan Station where their victim was to alight and rather drove her to a secluded area at Atonsu where they attacked and robbed her of the money she was to use to transact her business.
Moments after his confession, Owusu Kodua turned to the victim who was in court and asked for forgiveness, giving the assurance that he was now a changed person but deserved to be punished for bringing much pain to his victims.
After his plea, the court sentenced him to a 15-year jail term to end a trial that started almost four years ago.
Prosecuting , a Principal State Attorney, Mr Richmond Osei Ahwere, told the court that around 1am on December 23, 2004, the complainant, one Abena Kyerewaa, who is a resident at Adum in Kumasi, and a trader by profession, boarded a taxi with registration number AS 6636 U being driven by Kwabena Agyei.
He said when the complainant boarded the taxi, Owusu Boateng, Danzumah Ajona and Fredrick Owusu Kodua were already in the car.
The prosecutor said the complainant after boarding the car, told the driver that she was going to the Neoplan Station in Kumasi, but the driver diverted the route and drove towards the Atonsu area, and on reaching a point, the occupants in the car, who were equipped with locally manufactured pistols, attacked the complainant and succeeded in robbing her of a total of GH¢1500.00.
The prosecutor said after the robbery, the suspects dumped the complainant at a secluded area and drove off towards the Kajetia route.
He said the complainant reported to the police at the Railway Police Station.
Mr Osei Ahwere said the following day, the complainant spotted Kwabena Agyei, who was visiting his girlfriend at Adum, and after identifying him, she raised an alarm and caused his arrest.
He said moments after Kwabena Agyei was arrested, he threw away a mobile phone he was holding but police investigations led to the arrest of the girlfriend, one Afua Ataa.
The prosecutor said when she was searched a total of GH¢164.00 wrapped in a paper from the Dunkirk branch of the Adansi Rural Bank, where the victim withdrew her money, were found.
Mr Osei Ahwere said Ataa confessed that the money was given to her by Kwabena Agyei, who later led the police to arrest Owusu Boateng, Danozumah and Fredrick Owusu Kodua to assist in their investigations and were charged with the offence afterwards.