A Tamale High Court has sentenced a former police officer, General Corporal (G/Cpl) Suleman Ayuba Gbana, and his accomplice, Adam Siba, to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour each.
The two men were convicted after the court found them guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Two Convicted Over 2020 Armed Robbery
The case is linked to an armed robbery incident that happened in Tamale on April 15, 2020.
During the incident, two forex dealers were attacked by armed robbers. The victims were reportedly shot during the attack before the robbers took a large amount of money from them.
According to the case, the robbers made away with GH¢530,000 as well as foreign currencies belonging to the two forex dealers.
The incident caused concern in the Tamale community and led the police to begin investigations to identify the people behind the robbery.
The investigations later led to the arrest and prosecution of G/Cpl Suleman Ayuba Gbana, a former police officer, and Adam Siba.
Police Pistol and Other Items Recovered
As investigations continued, the police recovered several items from the residence of the former police officer.
The items included a Ghana Police Service pistol, 10 rounds of ammunition and three pairs of handcuffs.
The recovery of the items became an important part of the investigation into the case.
The prosecution linked the former police officer and his accomplice to the robbery case, which eventually went before the Tamale High Court for trial.
Court Delivers Sentence
After considering the evidence presented before it, the Tamale High Court convicted G/Cpl Suleman Ayuba Gbana and Adam Siba for conspiracy to commit robbery.
The court subsequently sentenced both men to 25 years in prison with hard labour.
The sentence means that each of the two convicted persons will spend 25 years in prison as punishment for the offence.
The case highlights the serious nature of armed robbery and the long prison sentences that can follow when suspects are convicted by the courts.
Third Accused Person Acquitted
However, not everyone who was originally accused in connection with the case was convicted.
A third accused person, Mohammed Iddrisu, was acquitted and discharged by the court.
This means that the court found that the evidence presented against him was not enough to establish his guilt beyond the required legal standard.
As a result, Mohammed Iddrisu has been cleared of the charges and will not serve a prison sentence in connection with the case.
Robbery Case Dates Back to 2020
The case dates back more than six years to the armed robbery attack in Tamale.
The victims, who were forex dealers, were reportedly attacked while carrying money and foreign currencies.
The attackers allegedly used firearms during the incident, resulting in two people being shot.
The amount of money reportedly taken during the robbery was significant, with GH¢530,000 and other foreign currencies stolen.
The case remained under investigation as the police worked to identify those responsible and gather evidence that could be presented in court.
The eventual prosecution of the suspects led to a lengthy court process before the final judgment was delivered.
Former Officer Among Those Convicted
The conviction of a former police officer has also drawn attention to the case.
Police officers are expected to protect lives and property and help maintain law and order. The involvement of a former officer in a robbery-related case therefore makes the matter particularly serious.
The recovery of a Ghana Police Service pistol, ammunition and handcuffs from his residence also formed part of the issues raised during the investigations.
The court’s decision to sentence both G/Cpl Suleman Ayuba Gbana and Adam Siba to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour brings the case to a major stage.
However, the acquittal and discharge of Mohammed Iddrisu means that the court reached a different conclusion regarding the evidence against the third accused person.
The judgment serves as a reminder of the importance of evidence in criminal cases and the need for courts to carefully examine the facts before reaching a decision.
For the victims and their families, the sentencing marks the latest development in a case that began with a violent robbery in Tamale in April 2020.
