JOHN MONDAY OBI vs. THE REPUBLIC [2015]DLCA4987

Date	2015-05-15
Suit No.	SUIT NO: C/A NO. H2/5/2014
Citation No.	[2015]DLCA4987

M. OWUSU J. A.

K. N. ADUAMA OSEI J. A.

A. M. A. DORDZIE J. A.

ERIC DELANYO ALIFO FOR THE APPELLANT

MISS REBECCA ADJALO (SSA) FOR THE REPUBLIC /RESPONDENT

[2015]DLCA4987
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JOHN MONDAY OBI <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>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SUIT NO: C/A NO. H2/5/2014&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;DATE: 15TH MAY, 2015<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>ERIC
DELANYO ALIFO 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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MISS
REBECCA ADJALO (SSA) FOR THE REPUBLIC /RESPONDENT<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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M.
OWUSU J. A., K. N. ADUAMA OSEI J. A., A. M. A. DORDZIE 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;
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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>A.M. A. DORDZIE, J. A. :<o:p></o:p>FACTS:<o:p></o:p>The facts
of this case as narrated by the prosecution at the trial are that the appellant
herein a Nigerian by nationality but domiciled in Italy, was at the Kotoka
International Airport on the 30th of November 2007 to board a flight
to Italy. He was arrested upon suspicion of carrying narcotic drugs in his
belly. He was sent to the 37 Military Hospital where X-ray examination revealed
that he had foreign materials in his belly. He was kept under observation and
within 24 hours he expelled 23 pellets of a substance suspected to be cocaine.
The pellets were sent to the Ghana Standard Authority for examination. It was
confirmed that the substance the accused expelled was cocaine weighing 376.02 grammes.<o:p></o:p>The
appellant was subsequently charged on two counts of (1) Attempted exportation
of narcotic drugs contrary to Sections (1)
&amp; 56 (a) of Narcotics Drugs (Control, Enforcement And Sanctions) Law,
1990 (PNDCL 236)<o:p></o:p>And (2)
Possession of Narcotic drug without authority contrary to Section 2 (1) of Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement and Sanctions)
Law, 1990 (PNDCL236) <o:p></o:p>He was arraigned
before the High Court Accra for trial. He pleaded not guilty to the offences;
in the course of the trial he changed his plea to guilty on both counts.<o:p></o:p>The
trial court convicted him on his own plea on both counts and sentenced him to
12years imprisonment with hard labour.<o:p></o:p>The
appellant in this appeal is praying for mitigation of the sentence imposed on
him by the trial court.<o:p></o:p>In
arguing the appeal it is the submission of counsel for the appellant that the
sentence of 12 years imprisonment imposed by the trial judge is harsh. The
trial judge failed to take into consideration mitigating factors such as: the
appellant is a first offender and that he changed his plea to guilty a proof
that he had shown remorse.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;It is further submitted on behalf of the
appellant that he had already served half of the sentence and therefore this
court should take that into consideration and set him free.<o:p></o:p>Sections 1 and 56 (a) of the Narcotic Drugs
(Control, Enforcement and Sanctions) Law, 1990 (PNDCL236) under which
the appellant was charged read as follows:<o:p></o:p>(1) “Any person who imports or exports any
narcotic drug without a licence issued by the Secretary for Health for that
purpose commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment
for a term of not le</main>