AGBEVUKAVU vs. THE REPUBLIC [1976]DLHC344

Date	1976-01-30
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1976]DLHC344

ANDOH J.

APPELLANT IN PERSON.

ADDO STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC.

[1976]DLHC344
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >AGBEVUKAVU <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH
COURT, HO]<o:p></o:p>[1976] 1 GLR 272<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DATE:
30 JANUARY 1976.<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">

APPELLANT IN PERSON.<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">

ANDOH J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ANDOH J.<o:p></o:p>On 26
November 1976, when this court granted leave to the appellant to appeal against
his conviction and sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour, I
ordered 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">“In view
of the number of frivolous and vexatious appeals which come to this court, I
would grant leave to the appellant to appeal so that in the event of the appeal
being dismissed, I would further consider whether an appellate court has
jurisdiction to enhance the sentence of the court below and if so whether there
is any limitation imposed on the jurisdiction of the appellate court when it
decides to enhance the sentence of the lower court.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The facts
culminating in this appeal may be summarised as follows: The appellant is
reported to have entered the store of the complainant, snatched a piece of wax
print valued at ¢30.00 and passed it on to a member of his gang who succeeded
in escaping with it without arrest. He was charged with stealing, tried and
found guilty. He was then convicted and sentenced to a term of twelve months’
imprisonment with hard labour. The conviction is unimpeachable because it is
amply supported by the evidence on record. The only legal point which I
consider it necessary to delve into is whether the sentence can be enhanced by
the appellate court and if so the extent permissible by law.<o:p></o:p>Section
26 (13) of the Courts Act, 1971 (Act 372), spells out quite distinctly the
jurisdiction of an appellate court in criminal cases 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">“26. (13)
Subject to the provisions of this section, an appellate court may in a criminal
case—<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">(a) On
appeal from a conviction or acquittal,—<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(i) reverse the finding and sentence
and acquit and discharge or convict the accused as the case may be or order him
to be retried by a Court of competent jurisdiction, or commit him for trial, or
<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(ii) Alter the finding maintaining the
sentence or with or without altering the finding reduce or increase the
sentence; or <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(iii) With or without such reduction or
increase and with or without altering the finding alter the nature of the
sentence; or <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(iv) annul the conviction and
substitute a special finding to the effect that the accused was guilty of the
act or omission charged but was criminally insane so as not to be responsible
for his action at the time when he did the act or made the omission and order
the accused to be confined as a criminally insane person in mental hospital,
prison or other suitable place of safe custody; <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">(b) on an
appeal from any other order, alter or reverse any such order, and in either
case make any amendment or any consequential or incidental order that may
appear just and proper.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>