SAMUEL AGOE MILLS ROBERTSON vs. THE REPUBLIC [2014]DLSC2998

Date	2014-05-28
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J3/4/2014
Citation No.	[2014]DLSC2998

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC (PRESIDING)

OWUSU (MS) JSC

DOTSE JSC

AKAMBA JSC

ANIN-YEBOAH JSC

NKRABEAH EFFAH- DARTEY WITH HIM CHARLES OFORI FOR THE APPELLANT.

VALERIE ADUSEI (MRS) (CSA) FOR THE REPUBLIC

[2014]DLSC2998
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SAMUEL AGOE MILLS ROBERTSON<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[SUPREME COURT, 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">

CIVIL APPEAL NO. J3/4/2014&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 28TH MAY,
2014<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>NKRABEAH EFFAH- DARTEY WITH HIM CHARLES OFORI 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">

VALERIE ADUSEI
(MRS) (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;
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<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;line-height:normal;border:none;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC (PRESIDING), OWUSU (MS) JSC, DOTSE JSC, ANIN-YEBOAH JSC,
AKAMBA JSC<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;
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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>OWUSU (MS) JSC;-<o:p></o:p>This is an appeal against the Judgment of
the Court of Appeal reducing a sentence of 15 years I. H. L imposed on the
Appellant to 12 years I. H. L.<o:p></o:p>The Appellant was charged with five (5)
others on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime contrary to section 23 (1)
of the criminal offences Act of 1960 and possessing Narcotic Drug without
lawful authority contrary to section 2 (1) of the Narcotic Drugs (control,
enforcement and sanctions ) Act of 1990.<o:p></o:p>The Appellant who initially pleaded not
guilty to both counts, changed his plea to guilty on count one (1) and guilty
with explanation on count two (2).<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>He was represented by counsel who informed
the court that the “guilty with explanation” plea was not to offset a plea of
not guilty but only a mitigating plea.<o:p></o:p>The court accordingly convicted him on his
plea and adjourned the case for sentencing of the Appellant after his counsel
has put in a plea for mitigation.<o:p></o:p>When the court came to sentence the
Appellant, this is what His Lordship said:<o:p></o:p>“I have taken the plea of mitigation
ably canvassed on behalf of the 1st accused by his counsel,
(sic).&nbsp; I have also considered that the 1st
accused is a first offender. However, the question of possession of narcotic
drugs has assumed a dimension which needed to be eradicated from the society as
society disapproves of it.&nbsp; This menace
of narcotic drugs has tarnished the good image of the West African sub-region
including Ghana and for that the law required a deterrent sentence as required
in KWASHIE VRS THE REPUBLIC.<o:p></o:p>In passing sentence I would also have
regard to the fact that the 1st accused has been on remand since the
29th day of June, 2008, the day of his arrest.&nbsp; Consequently, the 1st accused is
sentenced to fifteen (15) years imprisonment with hard labour (I. H. L.) on
each count of conspiracy and unlawful possession of narcotic drugs. Sentences
to run concurrently.”&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied with the sentence of fifteen
(15) years I. H. L., the Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal.<o:p></o:p>On appeal to the Court of Appeal, the Court
of Appeal allowed the appeal, reduced the sentence and set aside the sentence
of fifteen (15) years I. H. L.&nbsp; In its
place the Court of Appeal, substituted a sentence of 12 years I. H. L. <o:p></o:p>The appeal to the Court of Appeal was based
on the following grounds:<o:p></o:p>“a. in sentencing, the court below did
not take the disability of applicant into account in accordance with Article 29
(5) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.<o:p></o:p>b. The court below failed to properly
apply the period applicant had been on reman</main>