JOEL MEJIA DUARTE MOISES @ JOEL MELIA vs. THE REPUBLIC

GBADEGBE JSC:- On 29 March, 2012 the Court of Appeal confirmed the conviction and sentences imposed upon the appellant herein by the High Court Accra on 13 April 2007 for the offences of conspiracy to import narcotic drugs, importation of narcotic drugs, conspiracy to possess narcotic drugs and possession of narcotic drugs. The appellant claiming to have been aggrieved by the said orders of the CA appealed to us in the exercise of his unfettered constitutional right praying for a reduction of concurrent sentences of 25 years IHL on each of the three counts he was charged with. In the notice of appeal originating these proceedings filed pursuant to leave granted by the CA, the appellant urged the following grounds 1. The appellant on the basis of his reformed character and being a first offender humbly prays for reduction of the sentence. 2. The appellant has learnt valuable lessons for the ten (10) years period served in prison and his life has undergone a tremendous positive ref...