SAMUEL AGOE MILLS ROBERTSON vs. THE REPUBLIC [2014]DLSC5155

Date	2014-05-28
Suit No.	CRIMINAL APPEAL No: J3/4/2014
Citation No.	[2014]DLSC5155

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC (PRESIDING)

OWUSU (MS) JSC

DOTSE JSC

ANIN-YEBOAH JSC

AKAMBA JSC

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

VALERIE ADUSEI (MRS) (CSA) FOR THE REPUBLIC

[2014]DLSC5155
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SAMUEL AGOE MILLS ROBERTSON<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>[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">

CRIMINAL
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;28TH
MAY 2014<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<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;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;tab-stops:89.25pt;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">&nbsp;VALERIE ADUSEI (MRS) (CSA) FOR THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
<o:p></o:p>ADINYIRA
(MRS) JSC (PRESIDING), OWUSU (MS) JSC, DOTSE JSC, ANIN-YEBOAH JSC, AKAMBA JSC<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none;
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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">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>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). 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. 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. 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.” <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</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><o:p>&nbsp;</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. 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
remand before conviction on the sentence imposed on applicant.”<o:p></o:p></main>