WATARA vs. THE REPUBLIC [1974]DLHC2338

Date	1974-04-10
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1974]DLHC2338

OSEI-HWERE J.

EWUSIE-WILSON (OPPONG WITH HIM) FOR THE APPELLANT.

OSSEI (HOLDING C. S. K. AGBANU’S SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY BRIEF) FOR THE REPUBLIC.

[1974]DLHC2338
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">WATARA <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">vs. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT, SUNYANI]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1974] 1 GLR 250<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
10 APRIL 1974.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

EWUSIE-WILSON
(OPPONG WITH HIM) FOR THE APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

OSSEI
(HOLDING C. S. K. AGBANU’S, SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY, BRIEF), FOR THE REPUBLIC.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

OSEI-HWERE J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF OSEI-HWERE J.<o:p></o:p>By his
petition of appeal the appellant brings this appeal against the conviction (and
inferentially against the sentence) of the Circuit Court, Sunyani. The facts
giving rise to the appeal are that on 6 June 1972, the appellant was arraigned
before the District Court Grade I. Wenchi, on a charge of fraudulent evasion of
customs duties contrary to section 317 (1) (f) of the Criminal Code, 1960 (Act
29), as substituted by the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 1971 (Act 364). The
particulars of the offence, as appear on the charge sheet, are as follows:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">&nbsp;“Lamini Watara, lorry driver: For that you on
the 24th day of December 1971 at Wenchi in the Brong-Ahafo Magisterial District
and within the jurisdiction of this court, were knowingly concerned in
fraudulent evasion of customs duties.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>After the
statement had been read and explained to the appellant he pleaded guilty and
the prosecutor proceeded to give the facts. The recorded facts are the
following:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“On 24
December 1971, policemen on barrier duty in front of Wenchi Police Station
stopped Toyota bus No. GK 6039 which was travelling in Sampa direction towards
Kumasi. The vehicle was searched and 28 pieces of wax prints were discovered in
the vehicle. The wax prints are contraband goods the importation of which is
prohibited unless the necessary duties are paid. The accused claimed ownership
of the goods but admitted that he did not pay the necessary duties. The 28
pieces of cloth were sent to the Customs and Excise Office at Sunyani. The
collector in charge gave the treble value of the goods to be N¢1,191.33. The
matter was referred to the Attorney-General for advice. The Attorney-General
advised prosecution.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Thereafter
the following order was made by the court:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“By
court:—Accused is convicted on his own plea and committed to the Circuit Court,
Sunyani, for sentence. Accused remanded in custody to appear before the circuit
court on 7 June 1972.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It
appears from the record of proceedings that the appellant was put before the
circuit court on 23 June 1972. On that day he was represented by counsel for
the first time. His counsel urged before the learned judge that the appellant,
at the court below, had given an explanation which does not appear on the
record and he submitted that the judge must satisfy himself of the propriety of
the conviction before sentencing the appellant. The senior state attorney who
happened to be in court took up the gauntlet and submitted that under section
171 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1960 (Act 30), it was not mandatory for the
trial magistrate to record the appellant’s explanation. He accordingly, invited
the court to carry out its only duty under section 178 (1) and (2) of Act 30
which was to sentence the appellant. The learned judge found himself in a
dilemma and he adjourned the case to enable him to consider his ruling as to
whether the court must satisfy itself that the appellant was properly convicted
before it could impose sentence. That ruling was never to be but, from the
undisputed history of this appeal, the circuit judge stated a case on t</main>