THE REPUBLIC vs. WILLIAM ATO ESSIEN [2023]DLHC16316

Date	2023-10-13
Suit No.	SUIT NO. CR/0014/2020
Citation No.	[2023]DLHC16316

HIS LORDSHIP ERIC KYEI BAFFOUR

PROSECUTION/APPLICANT REPRESENTED BY JOSHUA SACKEY (SSA) BEING LED BY RICHARD GYAMBIBY (PSA) PRESENT

COUNSEL FOR CONVICT/RESPONDENT - BAFFOUR GYAWU BONSU ASHIA FOR THADDEUS SORY PRESENT

[2023]DLHC16316
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;WILLIAM ATO ESSIEN<o:p></o:p>[HIGH
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="font-size: 18px !important; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

SUIT NO. CR/0014/2020&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 12TH &nbsp;OCTOBER 2023<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">PROSECUTION/APPLICANT REPRESENTED BY JOSHUA
SACKEY (SSA) BEING LED BY RICHARD GYAMBIBY (PSA) PRESENT<o:p></o:p><div style="font-size: 18px !important; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:
Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-font-kerning:1.0pt;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">COUNSEL FOR CONVICT/RESPONDENT - BAFFOUR
GYAWU BONSU ASHIA FOR THADDEUS SORY PRESENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;<div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

JUDGMENT

</div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-size: 18px !important; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: 150%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Republic by this motion seeks an
order for the imposition of custodial sentence on the Convict/Respondent
pursuant to section 35(7) of the Courts Act, 1993, Act 459. The application is
supported by a twelve-paragraph affidavit to the effect that the Convict had
failed to make a payment of Twenty Million Ghana cedis on or before the 28th
of April, 2023 thereby failing to meet the conditions imposed on him and in the
view of the Republic this effectively terminates the terms of settlement.
Prosecution accordingly seeks for the passage of custodial sentence on the Convict
according to law. A background to what has necessitated this process would be
helpful.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 18px !important; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 18px !important; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: 150%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
It may be recalled that on the 13th
of December, 2022 the Convict changed his plea from “Not Guilty” to “Guilty” on
all the counts that he was facing before this court. He was accordingly
convicted on his plea. The Convict took advantage of section 35 of the Courts
Act, 1993, Act 459 for which the Republic and the Convict agreed to terms of
settlement that was filed before the court on the 30th of November,
2022.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 18px !important; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt; line-height: 150%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
By the terms of the Agreement relevant
for our purpose today, the Convict was required to refund a total amount of
Ninety Million Ghana cedis to the Republic as reparation and restitution. He
paid an amount of Thirty Million Ghana Cedis on the 1st December,
2022. The Convict was required by the terms of the Agreement to make a payment
of Twenty Million Ghana cedis on or before Friday the 28th of April,
2023. With the subsequent payments to be on the 31st of August, 2023
and the final payment to be on the 15th of December, 2023.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-size: 18px !important; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;