The Asante Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced two soldiers to ten years in prison each with hard labor for kidnapping and robbing a small-scale miner of GH¢96,500.00.

Air Force Lance Corporal (LAC) Alfred Mensah, 33, and LAC Matthew Amoako, 28, both denied conspiring to rob and kidnap Andrews Asante. After a full trial, they were found guilty.

Meanwhile, three of their accomplices, identified only as Frimpong and Francis, both soldiers, as well as Francis Acheampong, 41, a driver, are still at large.

Detective Chief Inspector Eric Twum, narrating the events, told the Court, presided over by Isaac Appeatu, that Asante, the complainant, was a small-scale miner living in Ametubuom, a suburb of Asiwa. Mensah and Amoako were Air Force officers based in Accra and Tamale, respectively, but both were attending a course in Accra at the time.

Acheampong, the driver, worked with a car rental company in Accra, while Frimpong and Francis were also military personnel stationed in Kumasi and are still at large.

The prosecution explained that Acheampong, after meeting the soldiers on November 25, 2023, and learning of their plans to carry out a robbery, led them to his company's secretary. He informed him that Mensah, Amoako, and Frimpong were planning an arrest in Konongo and rented a Mitsubishi Pajero with registration number GS 3236-17, which Acheampong was to drive.

They departed from Accra at approximately 1400 hours, and upon reaching Konongo, they picked up Francis. All the men were in military uniform. The Court heard that Frimpong, claiming to be from Asiwa, led them to Ametubuom, where they arrived at the complainant’s residence at around 0130 hours. They shouted his name, banged on his gate, and demanded he come out.

Fearing for his life, Asante refused to open the door until the gang attacked his friend, Kwabena, who had been called by his wife for help. The convicts then turned their anger on Asante when he finally emerged and forced him back into his home. They beat him and demanded GH¢400,000.00 for his release.

The complainant, unable to provide the full amount, was forced to borrow GH¢10,000.00 from his mother-in-law, who lived in the same house, and handed it over to the robbers. Not satisfied with this sum, the gang continued to beat Asante while demanding more money. He pleaded with his mother-in-law to help further, which she did, giving them an additional GH¢20,000.00 wrapped in a black polythene bag.

Prosecution continued, stating that Amoako pushed the mother-in-law back into her room, where the gang realized she had more money. They ransacked the room and took GH¢40,000.00, then proceeded to Asante’s room, where they also ransacked it and took GH¢15,000.00. They also seized GH¢7,000.00 from Kwabena and the ignition key to his motorbike, intending to prevent him from chasing them.

Not yet satisfied with their loot, they forcibly pushed Asante into their vehicle and continued holding him captive. During the journey, Mensah searched Asante and took an additional GH¢4,500.00 from his pocket, bringing the total to GH¢96,500.00. The police were alerted to the incident and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspects ignored the signal and sped away.

The police shot at the vehicle, but it continued until they reached a broken bridge at Anwiam. Unable to cross, they abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby forest, still holding Asante hostage.

Local residents learned of the incident and began searching for the gang. Around 0430 hours, Mensah and Amoako were spotted in Anumso Town, looking for a getaway vehicle. They were arrested by the townspeople and later handed over to the police. Frimpong and Francis, realizing that Mensah and Amoako had not returned, abandoned Asante and fled through the forest.

The prosecution stated that the two convicts later confessed to the crimes and identified their accomplices. Mensah told police that the loot was taken by the townspeople who had apprehended them. Later, a body armor, the complainant's walking aid, and Kwabena's motorbike ignition key were recovered from the gang's hideout in the forest.