The Tarkwa Circuit Court has handed down a 10-year prison sentence with hard labour to a taxi driver, Timothy Amponsah, for conspiring with his wife to rob another driver of his Mazda Damio taxi cab valued at GH₵30,000.00.
The 32-year-old convict, Timothy Amponsah, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and robbery, despite not being a first-time offender.
According to Police Chief Inspector Joseph Lartey, the prosecutor in the case, the complainant, Sampson Arhin, is a 28-year-old taxi driver residing in Ankobra, in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality.
On March 5, 2023, around 6:00 PM, Amponsah and his wife, Sheila Omano, who is currently on the run, conspired to rob a taxi from any driver they encountered in Prestea.
Later that same day, around 9:30 PM, Amponsah and Sheila arrived in Prestea, spotted Sampson Arhin in his taxi cab with registration number AS 9230-22, and signalled for him to stop.
The couple hired the complainant's taxi service from Prestea to Dumasi, claiming to visit a friend. However, upon arrival around 10:30 PM, Sheila made a phone call and informed Arhin that their friend had already left for Bogoso, so they should proceed to that location.
During the journey, Sheila sat in the front passenger seat while Amponsah, seated directly behind the driver, attacked Arhin in a rubber plantation area and used pepper spray on his face.
As a result, the complainant lost control of the vehicle, the engine turned off, and Amponsah forcibly pushed Arhin out of the car before driving away to an undisclosed destination.
On March 6, 2023, the complainant reported the incident to the police in Bogoso and received a medical form to seek treatment, after which he was discharged.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Arhin on March 11, 2023, in Asebu Ankromah. During a search of his room, the complainant's original number plate was discovered.
The court, after delivering the judgment, ordered the release of the vehicle to the complainant, Sampson Arhin.
