Jailed ex-military officer to spend another 300yrs for armed robbery

Isaac Amejor, Michael Baffour and Muntakilu Saddick have received an additional 300-year sentence from an Accra Circuit Court after previously being sentenced to a total of 180 years for related crimes.

Isaac Amejor, a former police officer, Michael Baffour, a former Ghana Armed Forces member, and Muntakilu Saddick, a former trader at Kantamanso faced Judge Evelyn Asamoah at the Circuit Court on September 26, 2024.

Isaac Amejor was sentenced to 35 years for conspiracy to commit a crime, 35 years for robbery, 10 years for impersonation, 20 years for preparation to commit a crime and three years for being on premises for unlawful purposes.

Michael Baffour received the following sentences; 35 years for conspiracy to commit robbery, 35 years for robbery, 10 years for impersonation, 20 years for preparation to commit a crime, one year for the unlawful use of military uniform and equipment, and three years for being on premises for unlawful purposes.

Muntakilu Saddick was sentenced to 35 years for conspiracy to commit robbery, 35 years for robbery, 20 years for preparation to commit a crime and three years for being on premises for unlawful purposes.

The court ordered that these sentences run concurrently. As a result, Amejor, Baffour and Saddick will each serve a maximum of 35 years. They are required to serve their sentences in hard labour. The convicts pleaded not guilty to the charges, allowing the court to conduct a full trial.

In court, DSP Evans Kesse explained that Amejor was dismissed from the Ghana Police Service, while Baffour resigned from the Ghana Armed Forces in 2014. Their accomplice, Saddick, was previously a trader at Kantamanso, Accra. Kesse noted that Amejor and Baffour resided in Kasoa in the Central Region, while Saddick lived in Asamankese in the Eastern Region.

The prosecutor informed the court that the trio became friends and decided to form a syndicate that would regularly engage in robberies targeting innocent citizens, particularly those visiting financial institutions to withdraw money.

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the accused met at the Kasoa toll booth and took a taxi to Dansoman to carry out their planned robberies targeting clients of financial institutions.

They began surveying various banks from Bortianor, seeking potential victims.

Ultimately, the three convicts focused on the GCB Bank branch at Dansoman for their unlawful activities.

While loitering around the bank, they targeted Priscilla Quansah, a mobile money vendor, who was there to withdraw cash.

Muntakilu Saddick, disguised as a spy, entered the bank and spotted the victim, Priscilla Quansah, who had just withdrawn GH¢4,000 from her mobile money account.

He quickly contacted his accomplices waiting in a taxi parked nearby, describing the victim’s appearance.

Afterward, he exited the bank to join them.

Isaac Amejor then emerged from the car and approached Quansah as she headed to her business center. He falsely claimed that she had been reported by her employer for an unspecified crime and informed her that she was under arrest.

Forcing her into the back seat of the car, where she was sandwiched between the two convicts in police and military uniforms, Michael Baffour, also known as Mike, asked her how much she had withdrawn. She replied that it was GH¢4,000.

Baffour instructed the driver to move and directed the route until they reached the entrance of a house, where he ordered the driver to stop.

He then forced the victim to hand over her handbag, which contained GH¢950 and two cell phones, claiming he needed to take her to his boss, Mr. Appiah.

Despite her resistance, she was pulled from the car and her bag was forcibly taken. Baffour led her into the house, quickly abandoned her and returned to the vehicle, telling the driver to speed away.

The three robbers paid the driver GH¢410 and divided the remaining money among themselves. Mutakilu Saddick took the victim’s phone, as it was his turn to receive a stolen item, having previously benefited from other phones taken during their crimes.

Saddick also collected the driver’s contact number, assuring him they would continue to work together. The following day, March 23, 2023, he called the driver to arrange a trip to Tema, where they planned to target more victims at financial institutions.

Amejor and Baffour wore their police and military uniforms, while Saddick dressed casually. Meanwhile, a surveillance team from the Ghana Police Service, having received intelligence on their activities, began monitoring them from the Kasoa toll booth area, ultimately pursuing and arresting them.

 

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