A mechanic walked free Thursday after 23 years behind bars for a crime he never did. Yaw Asante Agyekum won his freedom when Ghana's Court of Appeal threw out his conviction. Three judges said prosecutors never proved he helped the famous robber Ataa Ayi steal from people. The court ruled evidence against Agyekum was too weak to send him to prison. His lawyer George Bernard Shaw fought for eight years to clear his client's name.
Police arrested Agyekum back in 2002 and linked him to Ataa Ayi's gang of thieves. Ataa Ayi got 90 years total for multiple robberies around Accra during those scary times. Judges gave Agyekum 35 years even though he said he was innocent from day one. The real criminal Ataa Ayi still sits in prison serving his long sentences. Agyekum served almost two-thirds of his sentence before judges agreed he was wrongly convicted.
Police arrested Agyekum back in 2002 and linked him to Ataa Ayi's gang of thieves. Ataa Ayi got 90 years total for multiple robberies around Accra during those scary times. Judges gave Agyekum 35 years even though he said he was innocent from day one. The real criminal Ataa Ayi still sits in prison serving his long sentences. Agyekum served almost two-thirds of his sentence before judges agreed he was wrongly convicted.
