SOLOMON MENSAH vs. THE REPUBLIC [2018]DLCA5220

Date	2018-02-14
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1/16/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLCA5220

JUSTICE IRENE C. LARBI (MRS) J.A. (PRESIDING)

JUSTICE L. L. MENSAH J.A.

JUSTICE ANGELINA M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS) J.A.

NANA E. A. KONDUA FOR APPELLANT.

PATIENCE KLINOGO (CSA) FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[2018]DLCA5220
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SOLOMON MENSAH<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, CAPE COAST]<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. H1/16/2018&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 14TH FEBRUARY 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>NANA
E. A. KONDUA FOR APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p>JUSTICE
IRENE C. LARBI (MRS) J.A. (PRESIDING), JUSTICE L. L. MENSAH J.A., JUSTICE
ANGELINA M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS) 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">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>L. L. MENSAH, J.A.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>This
is an appeal against the decision of the High Court, Tarkwa sitting as an
appellate court dated the 24th day of February 2016.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Facts:<o:p></o:p>The
facts on which rest this appeal are as follows:- The Appellant was an excavator
operator of a Chinese small scale mining company at Oda-Krofrom near Asankragwa.
On 15th January 2015, the Appellant agreed with a former casual
worker of the company and four other persons, all of whom are at large, to rob
the complainant.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On
the agreed date the 25th January 2015, they laid ambush for the
complainant and when the complainant and his son were travelling with gold
valued at GH¢859,586.00 plus cash of GH¢60,000.00, the Appellant quickly
informed his accomplices who had armed themselves with guns and dressed in
military uniforms. They stopped the complainant’s vehicle, stripped him naked
and snatched the vehicle containing the gold and cash and sped with same. A
report was made to the police and the culprits were persued. During
investigation, the complainant’s vehicle was found abandoned without the gold
and the money.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On
1st February 2015, the Appellant gave his luggage to a taxi driver
to be given to a friend, but when out of curiosity the luggage was opened by
the friend, it was found to contain two locally manufactured pistols with eight
rounds of ammunition, automatic pistol and a set of military uniform. When the
Appellant was confronted, he confessed the arrangement made with his colleagues
to rob the complainant. The Appellant’s accomplices are still at large.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>After
investigations, the Appellant was charged with conspiracy, abetment of robbery
and possession of arms and communication without authority. He pleaded guilty
after the charges were read and explained to him in Twi. The charge of
conspiracy was however later dropped by the prosecution.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
Circuit Judge before whom Appellant was arraigned, sentenced him to 40 years
imprisonment. Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the High Court, Tarkwa. The
learned Appellate High Court Judge upon reviewing the appeal reduced the
sentence from the 40 years to 30 years IHL. It is against the 30 years sentence
that the Appellant appealed to this court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Grounds of Appeal:<o:p></o:p>The
following are the grounds of appeal:-<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
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