Mechanic Sentenced For Car Jerking

A circuit court in Koforidua had sentenced Winfred Dzatsi also known as Rasta, heavy duty machine mechanic, to 15 years imprisonment in hard labour for robbery. Dzatsi pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery. Mr Emmanuel Essampong, State Attorney, told the court presided over by Mrs Barbara Tetteh Charway that the complainant was a driver, and on July 18, last year at about 1835 hours, the convict hired the complainant�s taxi with registration number GT 5953-10 from Abeka Lapaz in Accra to Akim Mampong to convey his sick mother to Accra. Prosecution said when the driver reached Asaman Tamfoe where he was supposed to turn to the Akim Mampong road, he was asked by the convict to continue to Adasawase, since he had been informed that his mother was there. Mr Eaasampong said the complainant continued to Adasawase and asked his nephew, Kwabena to join the vehicle at Asaman Tamfoe. The prosecution said the convict ordered the complainant to stop by a gentleman who was walking along the road so that he could enquire whether he was the one to meet them. Mr Essampong said as soon as the complainant stopped, the convict forcibly stopped the engine of the vehicle, and a struggle ensued between the driver and the convict. The man whom they stopped by together with two others from the bush joined the struggle and they over powered the complainant. The complainant�s nephew, who was with him in the car escaped to the police station to lodge a complaint and the convict and his accomplices managed to snatch the car and sped off. Mr Essampong said when the complainant pursued the gang to no avail, he (complainant) also went to the police station to report the case. He said on September 2, 2010, the complainant heard that the police were keeping in their custody some car snatchers, who were arrested along the Anyinam road. The complainant went to the police station and at an identification parade of suspects, identified the convict as the person who snatched his car from him.