SAMUEL OSEI BOATENG vs. THE REPUBLIC

ADJEI, J.A. : The Appellant was convicted by the Circuit Court Accra on 29th February, 2008 on a charge of Defrauding by False Presences contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960(Act 29). The trial Regional Tribunal Chairman who sat as an additional Circuit Judge sentenced the Appellant to ten (10) years in prison on each count. The sentences were to run concurrently. The brief facts of the case as presented by the prosecution before the trial Circuit Court were that the Appellant styled himself as a bodyguard of Hon. Kan Dappah and took GH¢1,000.00 and USD 2,000.00 from one Adjei Malik under the pretext of securing him European travelling documents. The Appellant could not secure the travelling documents for the complainant and went into hiding. The Appellant pleaded "Not Guilty" to the charge but was convicted by the trial Judge after the trial. Even though the Appellant indicated that he was appealing against the conviction, the grounds of appeal set forth b....