Appeals Court Capsizes Akuapem Poloo’s 90-Day Jail Term; Fined 12k

The Court of Appeal has reversed Akuapem Poloo’s 90-day jail term and imposed a fine of GHc12, 000 (1000 penalty).

On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, Lawyers of convicted actress Rosemond Alade Brown popularly known as Akuapem Poloo filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging the dismissal of her appeal by the High Court.

On Monday, December 1, 2021, the High Court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey dismissed her Appeal seeking a non-custodial sentence instead of a custodial sentence.

The High Court ruled that the 90 days custodial sentence imposed on her by the Circuit Court was not “manifestly excessive” and “harsh” and therefore cannot interfere with that decision.

Five days later, her lawyers led by Andrew Kudzu Vortia filed a notice of appeal to challenge that decision and notice for bail.

A copy of the notice of appeal filed on Monday, December 6, 2021, stated as follows;

“Please take note that the convict/appellant/appellant hearing, being aggrieved by the judgment of the High Court Criminal Division (1)Accra, Her Ladyship Ruby Aryeetey dated 1st December 2021 dismissing the appellant appeal against the conviction and sentenced to 90 days imprisonment imposed on the appellant on each count to run concurrently by Her Honour Mrs. Christiana Cann dated April 16, 2021, hereby appeals to the court of appeal on the grounds set out below and for the release stated hereunder.

“That the learned judge erred in failing to appreciate that as a young first offender and a single parent, a non-custodial sentence of a fine instead of a custodial sentence of 90days imposed on the appellant by the trial court is appropriate in this case,” the notice of appeal stated.

“Please take note that the convict/appellant/appellant hearing, being aggrieved by the judgment of the High Court Criminal Division (1)Accra, Her Ladyship Ruby Aryeetey dated 1st December 2021 dismissing the appellant appeal against the conviction and sentenced to 90 days imprisonment imposed on the appellant on each count to run concurrently by Her Honour Mrs. Christiana Cann dated April 16, 2021, hereby appeals to the court of appeal on the grounds set out below and for the release stated hereunder.

“That the learned judge erred in failing to appreciate that as a young first offender and a single parent, a non-custodial sentence of a fine instead of a custodial sentence of 90days imposed on the appellant by the trial court is appropriate in this case,” the notice of appeal stated.

This was after Akuapem Poloo pleaded guilty to three charges.

She was charged with the publication of nude pictures with her seven-year-old son. She changed her not guilty plea to guilty before being convicted.

She was sentenced to 90 days on each count but the court said, the sentence must run concurrently. This means she will only serve a 90-day jail term which is three months.

The Court presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Christiana Cann, said such cases are becoming prevalent in society, and Institutions including the court must act.

The court said it took into consideration all the pleas for mitigation before arriving at the decision.

Source: Starfm