Man gets 10 years for robbing Italian woman

An Accra Circuit Court on Thursday, sentenced a motorcycle rider to ten years imprisonment, in hard labour, for robbing an Italian woman of her mobile phone.

Mohammed Moro, 19, convict, pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found culpable, and Reuben Dzortekpeh, 20, head porter, charged together with Moro, was acquitted and discharged.

Police Chief Inspector William Kojo Boateng told the court presided by Mr Aboagye Tandoh that Benedetta Mangialardo, the complainant, is an Italian working at the International Organisation for Migration, Ghana, and a resident of Dzorwulu in Accra.

He said Moro and Dzortekpeh, reside at the Arts Centre and Okaishie respectively in Accra.

Chief Insp Boateng said that on Saturday, November 18, 2017, when the complainant and her fiancé, Simon Pannatier, were returning from theirfriend’s house and reached Shiashie, near the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout, Accra, Moro and Dzortekpeh emerged from nowhere and began chasing them.

The court heard that Moro snatched an iphone4 from the woman, after a struggle ensued between the convict, the victim and her fiancé, ran into a nearby bush, leaving his pair of slippers.

Prosecution said the complainant sustained bruises on her right arm and left thigh during the struggle.

Chief Insp Boateng said in the course of the struggle, Moro’s Samsung edge 6 mobile phone, fell on the ground and the complainant took it together with the slippers.

He said Dzortekpeh  chasedthe complainant and her fiancé, but he retreated when he realised, they had reached an open place.

Chief Insp Boateng said the complainant reported the case to the Airport Police with the slippers and Samsung edge 6 mobile phone.

The court heard that on November 19, 2017, Dzortekpeh called Moro’s phone, which was with the police, and they lured themt to come for the phone at the Airport First bus stop.

Chief Insp Boateng said Moro and Dzortekpeh arrived at the venue on a motorcycle with the registration number M 17 GR 2543, while Dzortekpeh was the pillion rider.

Prosecution said the two sensing danger attempted to escape,but Dzortekpeh was arrested and Moro sped off on the motorcycle, but he was later arrested at the Airport Residential Area.

Chief Insp Boateng said the complainant identified Moro as well as Dzortekpeh, and Moro admitted ownership of the exhibits during investigation. – GNA