MATHIAS ASHABI vs. THE REPUBLIC [2014]DLCA3600

Date	2014-10-21
Suit No.	SUIT NO. H2/11/2015
Citation No.	[2014]DLCA3600

ADJEI J.A (PRESIDING)

LOVELACE-JOHNSON J.A

SOWAH J.A.

MR. J. K. YEBOAH (ESQ.) FOR THE APPELLANT

MRS. EMILY OKYERE (CSA) FOR THE RESPONDENT

[2014]DLCA3600
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MATHIAS
ASHABI<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[COURT OF APPEAL, KOFORIDUA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;SUIT NO. H2/11/2015&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;&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: 21TH OCTOBER, 2014<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>MR.
J. K. YEBOAH (ESQ.) FOR THE APPELLANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MRS. EMILY OKYERE (CSA)
FOR THE RESPONDENT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p>ADJEI
J.A, (PRESIDING) LOVELACE-JOHNSON, J.A. AND SOWAH J.A.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>SOWAH J.A.<o:p></o:p>The appellant was convicted by the Circuit Court
(Akropong) on 6th October 2011 for “Being in possession of Narcotic
drugs contrary to section 2(1)(2) of PNDCL 236 of Act 1990” and&nbsp; sentenced on his own plea of guilty to 15
years imprisonment. He appealed his conviction and sentence to the High Court,
Koforidua which on 2nd May 2012 dismissed the appeal and rather enhanced
the sentence from 15 years to 25 years IHL. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Being aggrieved with the decision contained in the
judgment of the High Court Koforidua, sitting as an appellate court, the
appellant has pursuant to leave granted filed this appeal to
this court with the following as grounds of appeal:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The appellate High Court failed to consider the ground of appeal
of the appellant that the appellant did not appreciate the nature and quality
of his plea of guilty by holding that appellant pleaded guilty simplicity when
the charge was read to him.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The appellant High Court erred in law when it held that the
procedure at the Circuit Court was a summary one and appellant pleaded guilty
without adding any words there was no need for the trial Circuit Court to
record anything.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The appellate High Court misdirected itself when it relied on the
facts of the case as if the facts were evidence put before the court.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The appellate High Court relied on matters that were not relevant
to enhance the sentence of the appellant from 15 years IHL to 25 years IHL.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">e.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The enhanced sentence is excessive and harsh having regard to the
circumstances of the whole case.<o:p></o:p>