The High Court in Accra has dismissed an appeal filed by Rosemond Alade Brown, popularly known as Akuapem Poloo, which sought to challenge the 90-day jail term handed to her by the Accra Circuit Court on April 16, 2021.
This indicates that Akuapem Poloo will continue serving the jail term handed her by the Circuit court. However, she has served eight days in prison and expected to continue with the 82 days left.
In a ruling on Wednesday, Dec 1, 2021, the Criminal Division of the court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey upheld the Circuit court decision on grounds that the Circuit court’s decision was not “manifestly excessive”.
“This court will not interfere and the appeal is therefore dismissed”
Justice Ruby
The court ordered that in the absence of the convict, Akuapem Poloo’s child should be given to any competent person in the family to take care of him.
Currently, Akuapem Poloo is topping trends on Ghana Twitter as tweeps kept reacting to the latest development. While some commiserated with the socialite, others noted that the laws in the country are taking full effect.
@Ablekuma_Ironboy wrote: “This is so sad if you think about it. Akuapem Poloo’s son will be questioning a lot because there will be no mother to celebrate Christmas with”.
@Nana_Qweku: “Akuapem Poloo will be celebrating Christmas as an inmate”.
@Paa Kojo: “This is really teaching us a lesson that the laws in the country work. Don’t let anyone lie to you. If you fool, that will be the end of you”.
Akuapem Poloo’s Initial conviction
It can be recalled that on April 16, 2021, an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Ms. Christiana Cann, sentenced Akuapem Poloo to 90 days imprisonment for publishing her nude picture in which she was standing in front her son on social media.
This was after she had pleaded guilty to the charge of “publication of obscene material contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), engaging in domestic violence, namely, a conduct that, in any way, undermined another person’s privacy or integrity, contrary to Section 1(d) (iii) and 3(2) of the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732), and engaging in domestic violence, namely conduct that, in any way, detracted or was likely to detract from another person’s dignity and worth as a human being, contrary to Act 732”.
However, the actress through her counsel, Mr. Andrews Vortia, on April 19, 2021, filed an appeal at the Accra High Court [Criminal Court 2 Division] to challenge the ruling of the Circuit Court.
Akuapem Poloo premised her appeal on two grounds. Firstly, she argued that she was a first-time offender and therefore the Circuit Court should have considered her plea of guilty as a mitigating factor while imposing the sentence. Secondly, the convicted actress argued that the trial judge should have imposed a fine on her instead of a custodial sentence.
Akuapem Poloo, also filed an application for bail pending the determination of her appeal. The actress was admitted to bail in the sum of 80,000 Ghana Cedis with three sureties.
Justice Aryeetey, who granted Akuapem Poloo bail then ordered her to report to the police every two weeks and also deposit her passport at the court’s registry.
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