ABU MOHAMMED vs. THE REPUBLIC [2024]DLSC17441

Date	2024-04-17
Suit No.	CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. J3/03/2023
Citation No.	[2024]DLSC17441

BAFFOE-BONNIE JSC (PRESIDING)

ACKAH-YENSU (MS.) JSC

KOOMSON JSC

KWOFIE JSC

DARKO ASARE JSC

MARTIN L. KPEBU ESQ.

RICHARD GYAMBIBY

[2024]DLSC17441
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><a name="_Hlk161040248"></a><a name="_Hlk152146143"><span style="font-size:
12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:
&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0">ABU MOHAMMED <o:p></o:p></a>(APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0">THE REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0"><o:p></o:p>[SUPREME
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><a name="_heading=h.gjdgxs"></a>&nbsp;<div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: black; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

CRIMINAL
APPEAL NO. J3/03/2023&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 17TH &nbsp;APRIL 2024<o:p></o:p>

MARTIN L. KPEBU ESQ.<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> FOR THE APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">RICHARD GYAMBIBY (PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY) FOR THE RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM <o:p></o:p>BAFFOE-BONNIE JSC (PRESIDING) <o:p></o:p>ACKAH-YENSU (MS.) JSC <o:p></o:p>KOOMSON JSC<o:p></o:p>KWOFIE JSC <o:p></o:p>DARKO ASARE JSC<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0cm 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:4.5pt;
border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>KOOMSON
JSC;<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;My
Lords,<o:p></o:p>The
core issue that we have been called upon to adjudicate is as to whether or not
a person who is over 18 years old but under 21 years, in this instance a
20-year-old, can be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than 3 years in
the face of Section 46 (1) (d) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2003, Act 653.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;FACTS
OF THE CASE<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The
facts leading up to the instant appeal are that on the 25th March, 2011, the
Appellant together with four others attacked a Total Filing Station on the Bawjiase
Road in Kasoa. They took away mobile phones, an amount of GHC 4,000 and a
lady's handbag containing her valuables. In the process of the robbery, the
Appellant fired a gunshot at the 1st and 2nd Prosecution witnesses injuring
them on the left thigh and left knee respectively. The Appellant herein was
arrested by a mob at the scene while trying to scale the fence wall of the
Riling station whilst 2nd accused person, who was discharged, was arrested at a
later date.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;On
29th November, 2012, the Appellant together with the 2nd accused person were
arraigned before the trial High Court, Accra on two counts of conspiracy to
commit robbery and robbery pursuant to sections 23(1) and 149 of the Criminal
Offences Act, 1960, Act 29 as amended by the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act
2003, Act 646. The Appellant was convicted by the Court of first instance and
sentenced to 25 years imprisonment (IHL) on each count, which was to run
concurrently. Appellant dissatisfied with the judgment appealed to the Court of
Appeal.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;COURT
OF APPEAL DECISION<o:p></o:p>The
Court of Appeal in dismissing the Appellant's appeal considered the period of 3
years, 4 months that the Appellant had been in lawful custody before his
conviction and sentence. The Appellant's sentence was reduced to 21 years,
Eight months imprisonment IHL. The Court of Appeal held as follows:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;