Man, 19, in court for beating and robbery

A-19-year-old man is standing trial at the Ashaiman circuit court for subjecting one Godwin Ofosu to severe beating and robbing him of his Techno Spark 8 phone valued at GHS1,200.00.

Abednego Kata was charged with Robbery contrary to section 149 of the criminal offences Act 1960(Act 29) as amended by Act 646 2003, which found him guilty. The court, presided over by His Honour Simon Gaga found the accused, Abednego Kata guilty and committed to a bail of GHS50,000.00 with two sureties who reside within the jurisdiction of the court. The court has directed that one of the sureties should have landed property. The case has been adjourned to 11-04-23. Before the court, the case was first called on 10-01-23 where the accused was remanded into police custody to allow the prosecution to file disclosures. The case was adjourned to 18-01-23. The disclosures were filed while the accused is still to remanded in police custody. The case was adjourned to 27-01-23 for the Case Management Conference(CMC) to start. However, the accused was granted bail at the sum of GHS50,000.00 with two sureties who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court but one of the sureties should have landed property. The case was adjourned to the 11-04-23 for prosecuting witness(PW2) to testify. Prosecuting:Chief Inspector Samuel Aperweh presenting the brief fact of the case told the court that on 01/01/2023 at 0130hours, the complainant Godwin Ofosu aged 34 was returning home from the 31st watch night service. Upon getting to Official Town Junction, the complainant met accused Abednego Kata aged 19, and his friends numbering about 20. The prosecution said the complainant tried to bypass them. Thinking they were masqueraders. In the process, the complainant's Techno Spark 8 phone valued at GHS1,200.00 rang and immediately he brought it out of his pocket, accused snatched same. The prosecution said the complainant then gave the accused a hot chase and arrested him. Instantly, all the friends accused moving pounced on the complainant and subjected him to the severe beating but complainant still held accused. Prosecution said one of the members of the accused person's gang then used a sharp object to cut complainant on his right upper arm but he still held the accused. The gang then helped the accused to take off his white T-shirt complainant was holding and accuse escaped. Complainant further gave the accused a chase with the assistance of a commercial motor rider arrested the accused. A mob including who had witnessed accused and his gang in their nefarious activities emerged and subjected accused to severe beating. Community 22 Police's foot patrol team then went in, rescued accused and brought him together with the complainant to the community 22 police station where complainant was lodged. Police took up investigation into the case and it established that accused and his gang numbering about 20 stood on the main Ashaiman Newtown road and were forcibly taking people who were returning from 31st watch night service properties and those who put up resistance like the complainant were severely beaten and various degrees of injuries inflicted on them. After investigations, the accused was charged and brought before the honourable court.