Two soldiers sentenced to ten years for kidnapping, robbery of small-scale miner

The Asante Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced two Air Force personnel to ten years of hard labor each for their involvement in the robbery and kidnapping of a small-scale miner, making away with GHC96,500.

Lance Corporal (LAC) Alfred Mensah, 33, and LAC Matthew Amoako, 28, both pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy to rob and kidnapping Mr. Andrews Asante. However, after a full trial, they were found guilty and convicted.

Meanwhile, three accomplices—identified only as Frimpong and Francis, both also soldiers, along with Francis Acheampong, a 41-year-old driver—remain at large.

Details of the Incident

Presenting the case before the court, Detective Chief Inspector Eric Twum explained that the victim, Mr. Asante, is a small-scale miner residing in Ametubuom, near Asiwa. At the time of the crime, Mensah and Amoako were Air Force personnel stationed in Accra and Tamale, respectively, but were undergoing a course in Accra.

Acheampong, the driver, worked for a car rental company in Accra, while Frimpong and Francis were military personnel based in Kumasi. On November 25, 2023, Acheampong, aware of the planned robbery, introduced the soldiers to his company's secretary under the pretense that they needed a vehicle for an arrest operation in Konongo. As a result, they rented a Mitsubishi Pajero (registration number GS 3236-17), which Acheampong was assigned to drive.

Departing from Accra around 2:00 PM, the group picked up Francis upon reaching Konongo. Dressed in military uniforms, they proceeded to Ametubuom, guided by Frimpong, who claimed to be a native of the area. Arriving at Mr. Asante’s residence around 1:30 AM, they banged on his gate, shouting his name and demanding that he come outside.

Fearing for his safety, Mr. Asante initially refused to step out. However, when his friend Kwabena arrived to assist, the attackers turned their aggression toward him. Eventually, Mr. Asante emerged, only to be forced back into his room, where he was assaulted and coerced into handing over GHC400,000 as ransom.

Robbery and Kidnapping

Unable to produce the demanded sum, Mr. Asante borrowed GHC10,000 from his mother-in-law, who lived in the same house. He handed it over to the assailants, but they were unsatisfied. Under continued pressure, his mother-in-law provided an additional GHC20,000 in a black polythene bag.

Amoako then forced the elderly woman into her room, where the group ransacked her belongings, seizing GHC40,000. They also searched Mr. Asante’s room, stealing another GHC15,000. Additionally, they took GHC7,000 from Kwabena and confiscated his motorbike ignition key to prevent him from pursuing them.

Even after collecting a total of GHC96,500, the assailants were not done. They forcibly abducted Mr. Asante, pushing him into their vehicle while Mensah searched him and took an additional GHC4,500 from his pocket.

Escape and Capture

As the criminals attempted to flee, the police were alerted and ordered them to stop. However, they ignored the directive and sped off. The police opened fire on their vehicle, but they continued their escape until reaching a broken bridge at Anwiam, where they were forced to abandon the vehicle. Still holding Mr. Asante hostage, they fled on foot into a nearby forest.

Meanwhile, local residents, having heard about the incident, organized a search party. By around 4:30 AM, Mensah and Amoako surfaced in Anumso town, looking for a getaway vehicle. Suspicious community members apprehended them and handed them over to the police.

Frimpong and Francis, realizing their two accomplices had been captured, abandoned Mr. Asante in the forest and escaped.

During police interrogation, the captured soldiers admitted to the crime and identified their accomplices. Mensah claimed that the stolen money was taken by the town folks who arrested them. Following further investigations, law enforcement recovered a body armor, Mr. Asante’s walking aid, and Kwabena’s motorbike ignition key from their hideout in the forest.

The court, after considering the evidence, sentenced Mensah and Amoako to ten years of imprisonment each with hard labor, while the search for their accomplices continues.