Chief Justice Nominee Justifies 70-Year Sentence for Notorio...

Chief Justice Nominee Justifies 70-Year Sentence for Notorious Armed Robber Atta Ayi

Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has defended the 70-year prison sentence he handed to the country’s most feared armed robber, Ayi Ayeetey, popularly known as Atta Ayi. Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie reflected on one of the most high-profile cases of his early judicial career. Speaking before the committee, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that while sentencing guidelines exist to ensure fairness and consistency, judges are sometimes required to exercise discretion in extraordinary cases. “The judges and magistrates are trained; they have sentencing guidelines,” he noted. “But sometimes they have to go beyond them. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years—Atta Ayi.” The nominee added that his decision was motivated not only by the gravity of Ayi’s crimes but also by concerns for public safety. “I gave him 70 years, and what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family will be the first he will attack,” he said lightheartedly, drawing laughter from the audience. “So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone.” Atta Ayi, Ghana’s most wanted criminal in the early 2000s, led a violent robbery gang across Accra before being captured in Teshie Tsui Bleo and sentenced in 2005 to 70 years in prison for multiple armed robbery offences.

Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has defended the 70-year prison sentence he handed to the country’s most feared armed robber, Ayi Ayeetey, popularly known as Atta Ayi.

Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie reflected on one of the most high-profile cases of his early judicial career.

Speaking before the committee, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that while sentencing guidelines exist to ensure fairness and consistency, judges are sometimes required to exercise discretion in extraordinary cases. “The judges and magistrates are trained; they have sentencing guidelines,” he noted. “But sometimes they have to go beyond them. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years—Atta Ayi.”

The nominee added that his decision was motivated not only by the gravity of Ayi’s crimes but also by concerns for public safety. “I gave him 70 years, and what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family will be the first he will attack,” he said lightheartedly, drawing laughter from the audience. “So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone.”

Atta Ayi, Ghana’s most wanted criminal in the early 2000s, led a violent robbery gang across Accra before being captured in Teshie Tsui Bleo and sentenced in 2005 to 70 years in prison for multiple armed robbery offences.