AXIM vs. THE REPUBLIC [1990]DLHC2066

Date	1990-10-16
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1990]DLHC2066

ACQUAH J.

MENSAH-ETSI FOR THE APPELLANT.

ELLEN KWAWUKUME SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC.

[1990]DLHC2066
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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:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">AXIM<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:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">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:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, HO]<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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [1991]
2 GLR 445&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; <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">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:right;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">Date: 16
OCTOBER 1990<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MENSAH-ETSI FOR THE APPELLANT.<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">

ELLEN KWAWUKUME SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE REPUBLIC. <o:p></o:p>

</div>JUDGMENT OF APALOO J.<o:p></o:p>The issue involved in this criminal appeal appears to be novel in
the sense that my researches through our law reports have not revealed any
reported case on it, although the principle by which the issue is to be
determined may be deduced from two seemingly conflicting decisions of the Court
of Appeal. The issue is this: Has the High Court jurisdiction to entertain an
appeal against the conviction of a circuit court in its summary jurisdiction,
in respect of which conviction the High Court had earlier on allowed an appeal
against the sentence founded on this very conviction?<o:p></o:p>The background of this appeal is that sometime in the first half
of 1987 the Ho township was panic-striken by a series of organised thefts into
people’s stores and houses. In the midst of this panic two people in possession
of some stolen items were arrested in a room hired by the appellant herein.
They were prosecuted for stealing before the Circuit Court, Ho, convicted and
sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Thereafter, one Alex
Kumah who was staying in that room and the appellant who admitted hiring that
room for this Alex Kumah, were charged before the same circuit court for
abetting the two who had already been convicted. The particulars of the charge
read:<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">“Alex Kumah: Lotto seller, Paul Kodzo Axim: Lotto receiver: For
that you on 22 June 1987 at Ho in the Volta Circuit and within the jurisdiction
of this court did abet one Godwin Dartey and Edem Savi Kwasi, both convict and
remand prisoners respectively in the commission of a crime, to wit: stealing.”<o:p></o:p>The facts as presented by the prosecution and recorded in the
proceedings are these:<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">‘‘The first and the second accused are lotto sellers and
receivers. The second accused is the master to the first accused. The second
accused rented a room for the first accused near the Civic Centre, Ho. The
first accused resides there. On 19 June 1987, one Joseph Kwami’s room was
broken into and his items stolen. Investigations carried the police to the room
of the first accused. In the room of the first accused the culprits were found
with the stolen items. According to the police, the room had no door keys. It
is an open place where convict Godwin Dartey and accused Savi were found with
the stolen drinks. After investigations, the accused then not present in the
room were confronted as to why the accused were there. They could give no
satisfactory answer. Hence the charge.”<o:p></o:p>Both of them pleaded “not guilty”, and after a trial in which both
the prosecution and the defence called witnesses, the trial circuit judge on 29
July 1987 found both accused guilty in the following words:<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 conclusion, I hold that the two accused persons did
intentionally, carelessly and indeed recklessly abet Godwin Dartey and Edem
Savi Kwasi both convict and remand prisoners respectively in the commission of
a crime, to wit, stealing. The accused are accordingly found guilty and
convicted. Each is bonded in the sum of ¢200,000 with two sureties to be of
good behaviour for the next 24 months or in default to face three months’ imprisonment
with hard labour.”<o:p></o:p>The Attorney-General’s office being dissatisfied with the
sentence, appealed to the High Court against it. The appellant herein was
served with the appeal papers, and was present and represented by his present
counsel during the hearing of that appeal. On 16 May 1988, my brother
Asare-Kwapong J. allowed the appeal and enhanced the sentence as follows: “The
accused is accordingly sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Sentence to begin from the date of conviction.<o:p></o:p>