TWO CAR SNATCHERS TO SERVE 80 YEARS IN JAIL (MIRROR, PAGE 27, JUNE 26, 2010)

From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

After succeeding in snatching a KIA Pride taxi from its owner around Tanoso in Kumasi early last year, luck finally run out on two young men, Joseph Mensah, alias Joe and Prince Adu Amankwah, who conspired to undertake the operation.
The two were arrested a few weeks later by the Mampong Police in the Ashanti Region, who got wind of their operation.
Police are also hunting for one Lalas, who was said to be an accomplice.
They pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to rob and robbing when they appeared before a Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by Justice E. Amoo-Yartey, but after their trial, they were found guilty of the offence and were convicted to serve a 40 year jail term each.
Giving the facts of the case, a State Attorney, Ms Anita R.D. Wase, who was the prosecutor, said last year, the Mampong divisional police command got information that a KIA Pride with registration number AW 3686 Z had been hidden in a bush at Asaam.
  She said when the police traced the vehicle, they realised that one of its back tyres was deflated, and their investigations led to the arrest of Joseph Mensah, who accepted that he was the caretaker of the vehicle.
She said after his arrest, Mensah also told the police that the car developed a fault, so the owners left it with him with an excuse that they would bring a mechanic to repair it.
She said the convict however, failed to produce an ignition key when the police requested for it.
She said as part of their investigation, Mensah also led the police to arrest Prince Adu Amankwah at his hideout at Abenase, near Ejisu.
According to Ms Wase, at Abenase , Amakwah told the police that he was the owner of the vehicle, but could also not produce the ignition key when he was requested to do so, and he later confessed that he was not the rightful owner of the vehicle.
The prosecutor said during their investigation, it was revealed that the convicts planned with one Lalas, now at large, to snatch the taxi from its owner.
She said it was Mensah who masterminded the operation, promising to offer GH¢500 each to Amankwah and Lalas if the operation was successful.
Ms Wase said based on the assurance, the three converged at Kejetia in Kumasi and hired the vehicle with the pretext of going to Tanoso New Site.
According to the prosecutor, it was on their way that Mensah who was seated at the passenger seat in the front asked the driver to stop for him to attend to nature’s call, and as soon as the driver slowed down, Mensah quickly turned off the ignition key, and together with his accomplices, assaulted the driver and snatched the car from him.
The State Attorney said Mensah quickly took charge of the vehicle and sped off, leaving the driver stranded.
She said after snatching the vehicle,the three went to Kumasi and used the Wiamoase route through Kofiase and finally hid the vehicle at Asaam, where investigations later made it possible for it to be recovered.