The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (Gyamfi) has described the three-month jail term handed down to actress Akuapem Poloo as harsh and high-handed.
In a tweet, Mr Gyamfi said the court should have been considerate since she is a first offender and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Rosemond Brown, as the actress is originally named, was jailed by the Accra Circut court Friday for taking a nude photo with her seven-year-old son.
“The sentence given to @IamAkuapemPoloo is very harsh and high-handed. Given the fact that she is a first offender, pleaded guilty and showed remorse, non-custodial sentence would have been appropriate. Sad! I pray @NAkufoAddo remits her sentence or pardons her,” the NDC Communicator said.
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Akuapem Poloo she was charged with the publication of nude pictures with her seven-year-old son. She changed her not guilty plea to guilty before being convicted.
She was sentenced to 90 days on each count but the court said, the sentence must run concurrently.
This means she will only serve a 90-day jail term which is three months.
The Court presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Christiana Cann, said such cases are becoming prevalent in society, and Institutions including the court must act.
The court said it took into consideration all the plea for mitigation before arriving at the decision.
EIB Network’s Court Correspondent Murtala Inusah reports that Akuapem Poloo who was sobbing all day broke down in tears in the courtroom.
The court had deferred her sentencing to today, April 16, 2021, to enable her to undergo a pregnancy test to ensure she was not pregnant before her sentencing is passed.
Before her sentencing, the presiding judge confirmed that the actress was not pregnant after her test came out negative.
The pregnancy test ordered by the court is a requirement by law to ensure that, before a woman who pleaded guilty in court is sentenced, the court should know her status.
She was therefore remanded into custody for the prosecution to take her to any Government hospital to conduct the pregnancy test and produce the results today.
The outspoken actress was charged with three counts of publication of obscene materials, engaging in domestic violence, conduct that in any way undermines another person’s privacy or integrity and engaging in domestic violence namely conduct that in any way detracts or is likely to detract from another person’s dignity and worth as a human being.
Rosemond who had displayed her naked picture with her son on social media on June 30, 2020, earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Brief facts
Brief facts of the case presented to the court by the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Agartha Asantewaa were that the complainant is Bright K. Appiah, the Director of Child Rights International Ghana.
According to the prosecution, on June 30, 2020, the accused person celebrated her son’s seventh birthday and she took her nude pictures together with her son who was also half-naked, and posted same on her Instagram page which went viral on social media.
She told the court that, the pictures attracted comments, adding that the behaviour of the accused person was likely to detract from the dignity of her seven-year-old son among others.
Chief Inspt. Agartha told the court that the complainant petitioned the Director-General Criminal Investigations Directorate and the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit.
Akuapem Poloo, she said was arrested and in her caution statement, admitted posting the nude picture with her son unintentionally.
But, the prosecution held that Rosemond had deliberately posted the nude picture together with her son.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
