A 26-year-old barber, Richard Amoako, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment with hard labor by the Tarkwa Circuit Court.

The barber conspired with a 30-year-old mason, Paa Kwasi now deceased, to rob a gold buying office in Wassa Nkonya in Wassa Amenfi East Municipality.

Amoako, known as Jordan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and robbery.

Hathia Ama Manu, the presiding judge, sentenced Amoako to 20 years in prison for hard labor on each count, but the sentences will run concurrently.

Chief Superintendent of Police, Alex Odonkor, Prosecution, said Richard Quansah, the complainant “Same God” owns a gold buying office at Wassa Nkonya but resides at Wassa Adiembra.

He said the victim Osman Adams is 22 years old and an employee of the complainant lived at Wassa Nkonya while Amoako and Paa Kwasi are residents of Kumasi in the Ashanti region.

According to the prosecution, on October 14, 2024, Amoako and his counterpart traveled to Wassa Mampong and its environs on a robbery expedition.

He said that on October 16, 2024, at about 12:30 am, Amoako and Paa Kwasi rode a motorcycle to Wassa Nkonya where they bought a shock and hid it in their clothes to execute the plan they devised earlier.

He said the two approached the complainant’s gold buying office and laid an ambush until they discovered Adams was alone in the office.

The prosecutor said Amoako and the deceased moved to the office with gold in their possession, wrapped in a black polythene bag under the pretense of offering it for sale.

Amoako engaged the victim in weighing the small gold and in the process Paa Kwasi took a chance and cut his throat where he suffered a deep cut and bled profusely.

The victim started screaming for help but Amoako and Paa Kwasi sensed they might be caught, took her on their heels and some residents rushed Adams to the Wassa Akropong Government Hospital for treatment.

The Chief Superintendent of Police, Odonkor, said people in the town seized Amoako and his accomplice and subjected them to severe beatings until the Wassa Nkonya Police received a tip-off, went to the rescue and transported them to the Wassa Akropong Government Hospital for assistance medical.

He said Paa Kwasi was pronounced dead while Amoako was treated, discharged and sent to the police station for questioning.

The prosecution said during investigations, Amoako confirmed that he conspired with the deceased to commit the crime and the blade they used in the operation was recovered and detained at the police station for evidence.

The court, during its ruling, also ordered Amoako’s family to pay GH¢10,000 cost to the victim’s boss, Richard Quansah.

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