An 18-year-old student attending Adanwomase Senior High School (SHS) has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for robbing teacher.
He was convicted and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment with hard labor by the Ashanti Circuit Court at Old Tafo. The judge, His Honour Festus Nukunu, delivered the verdict against Gabriel Osei Kwame for his role in robbing Matilda Boatema, a teacher at Gyaman Pensan Senior High School.
Gabriel pleaded guilty to the robbery charge under section 149 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act (Act 29) of 1960. The incident occurred on March 4, 2024, at approximately 7:30 am near Matilda’s residence in Adanwomase, Ashanti region. Gabriel assaulted Matilda with a jackknife and forcefully took her possessions, which included an Infinix Hot 9 smartphone valued at 700 cedis, cash totaling 570 cedis, along with some food items and documents.
Matilda promptly reported the robbery to the Asonomaso police, who responded swiftly. Despite finding Matilda’s bag abandoned in a nearby bush, the phone and cash were missing. The police collected evidence from the scene for further investigation. Later on March 25, Matilda spotted Gabriel in the company of a friend in Adanwomase, leading to his arrest and subsequent handover to the Asonomaso police.
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Initially, Gabriel denied his involvement in the robbery but later confessed to the police. He admitted to robbing Matilda and disclosed that he sold the stolen phone at Adum PZ for 250 cedis. However, Gabriel was unable to assist the police in recovering the phone. Consequently, he was charged with robbery and brought before the court, where State prosecutor, Inspector Alfred Aruk, presented the case.
Gabriel Osei Kwame’s conviction and sentencing serve as a stern reminder of the consequences of criminal actions. The swift response by law enforcement and the cooperation of the victim contributed to ensuring justice was served. This case highlights the importance of community vigilance and the role of the judiciary in maintaining law and order.