Man jailed 55 yrs for associating with suspected robbers

Known only as Mohammed, he has been jailed for 55 years at the Nsawam Medium Prison after he was caught up in a robbery gang.

The 41-year-old amputee prisoner was arrested together with some suspected robbers during a police swoop.

“We were taking a drink at a bar when police conducted the swoop and included him,” he told crimecheckghana.org.

Mohammed has served fourteen years of his sentence and has lost both of his legs already.

Narrating how he ended up among the gang, he said his younger brother invited his friends into their home.

Unknowingly, the group was on police wanted list.

On the fateful day he was arrested, Mohammed said they went out to feast when the police swooped on them.

He was arrested together with the suspects and no amount of excuse convinced the police to let him go.

“I did not know that they were wanted by the police. Upon all the several explanations and excuses the police refused to let me off the hook,” he said.

Mohammed lost his legs after a little boil sprouted on his legs. He is stuck in a wheelchair and he is helped by his colleagues to be able to carry out tasks.

His regret is his association with the gang he did not know about and advises the general public to be wary of people they get close to.

Mohammed pleads to government for clemency to be released from prison due to his frail condition.

CCF’s crime prevention advocacy

Crime Check Foundation (CCF) has introduced programmes including the latest ‘Stay Away From Trouble’ as part of its crime prevention advocacy project.

Through these programmes CCF cautions the general public against acts that could land them in trouble in a bid to curb crime.

The Foundation screens one-on-one interviews with prison inmates bringing to bear acts that landed them in prison and the difficulties they face in custody.

It has also paid the fines of many petty offenders for their release.

By Rudolph Nandi