EMMANUEL T. KWABENA GAINFORD vs. THE REPUBLIC [2013]DLCA4715

Date	2013-11-14
Suit No.	CRIMINAL APPEAL SUIT NO.H1/14/2013
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA4715

OWUSU M. J.A. (PRESIDING)

OFOE J.A. TORKORNOO J.A.

MR. MATTHEW AMPONSAH (CSA) FOR THE REPUBLIC

[2013]DLCA4715
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >EMMANUEL T. KWABENA GAINFORD&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>(APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT
OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<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">

CRIMINAL
APPEAL
SUIT NO.H1/14/2013&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;DATE: 14TH
NOVEMBER, 2013<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<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">

MR.
MATTHEW AMPONSAH (CSA) 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 1.0pt 0in">

OWUSU
M. J.A. (PRESIDING), OFOE J.A. TORKORNOO J.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</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="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>BY
COURT:&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>On 13-12-2012, the High
Court, (Financial Division) Accra, found the appellant guilty on the charges of
conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretences contrary to
Sections 23(1) and 131 all of Act 29 respectively.&nbsp; He was convicted on both charges and
sentenced to 10 years In Hard Labour on each count.&nbsp; The sentences were to run concurrently.<o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied with the
decision of the court, the appellant has filed this appeal.&nbsp; From the notice of appeal filed on 10-7-2013,
the appellant is appealing against the sentence only.&nbsp; In his notice of appeal, he is pleading for
mitigation of sentence.&nbsp; The said ground
of appeal reads:<o:p></o:p>“The ten years sentence imposed on the
appellant is harsh in view of the circumstances surrounding the case, hence his
plea for reduction of sentence.”<o:p></o:p>When this appeal came
before us on 22-7-2013, we did order both counsel for the appellant and the
Republic to file their written submissions.&nbsp;
Up till now, none of them has filed any process even though the appeal
was adjourned to enable them do so.<o:p></o:p>We cannot wait for both
counsel for the appellant and the Republic forever.&nbsp; We have therefore decided to proceed with the
appeal.&nbsp; We have read the record of
appeal and we have no problem with the judgment or the guilt of the appellant as
he did defraud the complainant on the pretext of selling him a house at Airport
Residential Area, a fact he knew to be false.&nbsp;
He and others succeeded in taking a down payment of the purchase price
and went into hiding until he was arrested by the police.<o:p></o:p>The appellant is pleading
for a reduction in sentence.&nbsp; In
sentencing the appellant, the trial Judge took the submissions of counsel for
the appellant into consideration, i.e. his age.&nbsp;
We do not think there is the need to reduce the appellant’s sentence
having regard to severity of the offences and the amount involved.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>The appeal against
sentence is hereby refused.&nbsp; Appeal
dismissed accordingly.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></main>