G/L/CPL EKOW RUSSEL vs. THE REPUBLIC [2016]DLSC2800

Date	2016-07-13
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J3/5/2014
Citation No.	[2016]DLSC2800

DOTSE JSC (PRESIDING)

YEBOAH JSC

GBADEGBE JSC

AKAMBA JSC

PWAMANG JSC

AUGUSTINE OBUOR FOR THE APPELLANT.

MRS. EVELYN KEELSON (PSA) FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[2016]DLSC2800
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >G/L/CPL EKOW RUSSEL<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<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;
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CIVIL APPEAL NO. J3/5/2014&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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 13TH JULY, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>AUGUSTINE OBUOR 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.
EVELYN KEELSON (PSA) FOR THE 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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DOTSE
JSC (PRESIDING), YEBOAH JSC, GBADEGBE JSC, AKAMBA JSC, AND PWAMANG 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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JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>AKAMBA,
JSC:<o:p></o:p>There is a growing menace
of drugs infiltrating the very fabric of our society. The situation calls, not
only for concern but vigilance as well amongst all in order to stem the tide.
This will not be achieved by mere wishful thinking but by willing, active and
prudent initiatives to expose the miscreants and to bring them to justice. The
fact of the matter is that those who indulge in these activities know the “rules” of engagement and will do all it
takes to beat them. Against this background the law enforcement agencies must
be current in modern methods of stemming criminal activities and in particular
and for our purpose, in meeting all necessary requirements for successful
prosecution. <o:p></o:p>The strength of our
criminal justice system over the years has not thrived on mere wishes and
speculation but by the production of evidence that meets the standard of proof
of crime in a court of justice. Without the necessary evidence, presented in
accordance with the rules of law, all the prior efforts made in arresting a
suspect would be brought to nought.<o:p></o:p>FACT
BACKGROUND<o:p></o:p>This appeal lies from a
decision of the Court of Appeal dated 13th February 2013 which
affirmed the appellant’s conviction and sentence. The appellant at the time
material to this case was a Police officer attached to the Accra Regional Headquarters.
On 27th March 2007 one Maxwell Antwi, a car dealer at Nyamekye, a
suburb of Accra was arrested by a Police Detective from CID Headquarters, Accra
on suspicion of being in possession of a narcotic drug. Indeed a search on his
person revealed some whitish substance suspected to be cocaine – a narcotic
drug.<o:p></o:p>Upon interrogation, he mentioned
that the substance was part of some nine hundred (900) grams of similar
substance that the appellant Ekow Russel gave to him to sell on his behalf.
According to the said Maxwell Antwi, he had succeeded in selling some of the
drugs and given the money to the appellant. He was in the process of selling
the rest of the substance when he was arrested. It is apparent from the appeal
record that Maxwell Antwi and Ekow Russel were charged jointly as 1st
and 2nd accused respectively. On 7th February 2008 the 1st
accused Maxwell Antwi changed his plea to one of guilty and was convicted and
sentenced to 10 years IHL. Maxwell Antwi died on 10th January 2009
while serving his sentence at Koforidua Prisons. (See page 420 of ROA)<o:p></o:p>Based on these facts, the
appellant, Ekow Russell, was tried and convicted by the High Court, Accra and
sentenced to 12 years IHL on counts 1 and 2 but acquitted on count 3. On appeal
against his conviction and sentence, the Court of Appeal found no merit in the
arguments proffered and dismissed same, thus affirming the decision of trial
court.<o:p></o:p>BASIC
PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE<o:p></o:p>Let me state certain basic
principles underlying our criminal justice system as a prelude to considering
the grounds of appeal raised before this court. The first is that an accused
person is presumed innocent until the prosecution proves or establishes the
contrary. This is a constitutional guarantee provided under article 19 (2) (c )
of the Constitution 1992 which states: <o:p></o:p>“19 (2) A person charged with a
criminal offence shall-<o:p></o:p>(c ) be presumed to be innocent until
he is proved or has pleaded guilty.”<o:p></o:p>The next is that
throughout the trial of an accused person, the prosecution has the burden to
prove each ingredient of the charge (s) against the accused, beyond reasonable
doubt. Failure t</main>