Yaw Asante Agyekum, a mechanic who was wrongfully convicted in 2002 along with infamous armed robber Ataa Ayi, is now free after serving 23 years in prison after the Court of Appeal overturned his conviction.
A three-member bench of the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Janapare A. Bartels-Kodwo, ruled today (June 5, 2025) that Agyekum, who was sentenced 23 years ago, could not be connected to the numerous robberies committed by Ataa Ayi.
Additionally, the court believed that the prosecution had not presented enough proof to support a conviction and punishment.
Therefore, after eight years of legal battle through his attorney, George Bernard Shaw, to gain his freedom, the court acquitted and discharged Agyekum.
Agyekum, who is visibly happy, has already completed 23 years of the 35-year sentence that the High Court imposed on him after Ataa Ayi was given sentences of 70 years and 20 years in two different armed robbery instances.
Justices Stephen Oppong and Aboagye Tandoh were also on the panel.
Source: newsthemegh.com