Ghana's most wanted gang gets 554 years jail

ACCRA - An armed gang thought to have been behind a spate of violent robberies in Ghana's normally tranquil capital was sentenced to a total 554 years of hard labour.

The four men, who police say were the most wanted in the country until arrested last year, were sentenced for stealing 70 million cedis ($11,000) in 2003. There are around 25 more armed robbery cases pending against them.

They are currently on trial in a second case in which they are accused of stealing the equivalent of $105,662 from a business woman at gunpoint two years ago.

"We must cut such people away from the rest of society for a very long time to serve as a deterrent," the trial judge, P Baffoe Bonnie, said before sentencing them on Tuesday.

The leader, Aryee Aryeetey, 34, was given 70 years on each count of conspiracy and robbery, to be served concurrently. The others received 69 years for each count.

- REUTERS