The 29-year-old lady who faked her kidnapping in order to take GH¢5,000 from her adopted father has been sentenced to six-year imprisonment.
Joana Akos Krah on Monday, October 25 pleaded guilty to all charges pressed against her when she was arraigned before the Takoradi Harbour Circuit Court A.
She stood trial on two counts of deceiving a public officer and publication of false news after she was found guilty.
Before sentencing her, presiding judge His Honour Michael Kwodjoe Ampadu ordered that a pregnancy test be conducted on her. The test came out negative.
There were mitigating circumstances such as her being a first-time offender and a mother of a three-year-old child. She was also said to have shown remorse.
But Justice Ampadu expressed grave worry that Takoradi is gradually becoming synonymous with kidnapping and therefore something must be done to change that impression.
According to him, the case of the four girls who were kidnapped and later found to have been killed is fresh in the minds of the family and many residents of Sekondi-Takoradi.
For the first count of deceiving a public officer which is contrary to Section 251(b) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), Joana Krah was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
She was also sentenced to two years in prison for the second count of publication of false news which is contrary to Section 208(1) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).
However, the presiding judge explained that she will serve only the sentence on the first count.
The Court also asked that her child be left in the custody of her adopted father while she serves her sentence though the child should be given to the Social Welfare department if the adopted father will not be able take care of him.
Joana had collaborated with two others – Susanna Awortwe and Francis Eshun – to claim kidnapped to extort monies from her adopted father.
But after her adopted father reported the matter to the police and an extensive search commenced, she showed up at the Takoradi Central Police Station on Saturday, October 23.
She then confessed joking with her adopted father, the police narrated in a statement on Monday, October 25.
She was immediately arraigned before court, where she pleaded guilty to the charges.
By Eric Yaw Adjei|Connect FM|3news.com|Ghana
Editted by Emmanuel Kwame Amoh