OBENG GYEBI vs. THE REPUBLIC [2021]DLSC10765

Date	2021-05-26
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2021]DLSC10765

DOTSE JSC (PRESIDING)

DORDZIE (MRS.) JSC

AMADU JSC

PROF. MENSA-BONSU (MRS.) JSC

KULENDI JSC

WINIFRED SARPONG (PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY) FOR THE RESPONDENT

EZIUCHE NWOSU FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT/CROSS-APPELLANT.

[2021]DLSC10765
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >OBENG GYEBI<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>CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. J3/02/2021 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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:
26TH MAY, 2021<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 31pt 31pt 1pt;">

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</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>WINIFRED SARPONG (PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY) FOR THE RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>EZIUCHE NWOSU FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT/CROSS-APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 31pt 31pt 1pt;">

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</div>CORAM:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>DOTSE JSC (PRESIDING), DORDZIE (MRS.) JSC, AMADU JSC, PROF. MENSA-BONSU
(MRS.) JSC, KULENDI JSC <o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 31pt 31pt 1pt;">

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mso-padding-between:1.0pt">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;KULENDI JSC:-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;INTRODUCTION
<o:p></o:p>Upon
a cursory glance, this Appeal appears to be a normal appeal against a sentence
by a convict. However, upon closer inspection and a lot of introspection, this
matter transforms into one of immense jurisprudential importance with the very
essence and nature of justice at the heart of the main issue that this set of
facts raises. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;This
is an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal upholding the life
sentence handed to the Appellant by the Kumasi High Court on the 18th day of
August, 2000 for having committed the offences of Conspiracy and Robbery. At
the time of the sentencing of the Appellant, the law governing the sentencing
of people convicted of Armed Robbery was the Suppression of Robbery Decree,
1972 (N.R.C.D. 11). The relevance of this point will become increasingly
obvious in the course of this opinion.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The
Appellant, who represents himself, argues that the life sentence imposed on him
is harsh and excessive given the circumstances surrounding the case as well as
the proceedings in Court. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The
Appellant, then aged 32, was arraigned before the High Court, Kumasi, coram:
His Lordship Mr. Justice S.E. Kanyoke, and charged with Conspiracy to Commit
Robbery and Robbery contrary to Sections 23 and 149 of The Criminal and
Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) respectively. He pleaded not guilty to
both counts but after trial was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in
accordance with the terms of Section 2 of the Suppression of Robbery Decree,
1972 (N.R.C.D. 11). He appealed against the conviction and the sentence,
but his appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 24th February, 2012
leading to this current Appeal. He filed the notice of appeal on 28th April,
2020 pursuant to leave granted on 24th March, 2020. <o:p></o:p>