Three phone snatchers jailed 19 years for robbery

A Ho Circuit Court has sentenced three people to 19 years in prison.

The convicted individuals are Mercy Sokpe (22), Atsu Kamasa (25), and Godfred Dzidonu (19). They were found guilty of robbing Elijah Torgbedzi, 21, of his iPhone 6s. The robbery occurred near the Ho Central Market on May 4, 2025.

Mr. Osman Abdul-Hakeem presided over the court. He sentenced Sokpe to three years in prison. Kamasa and Dzidonu each received eight years for their roles in the crime.

According to court facts, Mercy Sokpe started the attack by pretending to take a selfie with Torgbedzi's phone. While doing this, she signaled her accomplices. They quickly joined her and assaulted Torgbedzi with scissors before stealing his phone.

Torgbedzi raised an alarm, which led to Godfred Dzidonu's arrest. He was found with the stolen phone. Police investigations later led to the arrests of Mercy Sokpe and Atsu Kamasa at their hideouts in Ho.

The three suspects appeared in court on May 9 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy and robbery charges. Each received a three-year sentence for conspiracy to commit robbery.

Additionally, Kamasa and Dzidonu received five extra years for robbery charges. This brought their total combined sentence to 19 years.

DSP Felix Danku from the Volta Regional Police confirmed these convictions. He advised the public to stay vigilant when approached by strangers under suspicious circumstances.

The police emphasized their commitment to public safety and urged citizens to report any suspicious activities promptly.