29-year-old Joana Krah, who faked her abduction at Takoradi in the Western Region, has been sentenced to six years imprisonment. Joana Krah on Monday, October 25 pleaded guilty to all charges pressed against her when she was arraigned before the Takoradi Harbour Circuit Court A.
Presiding judge Michael Ampadu on Tuesday sentenced her to six years in jail. Joana had collaborated with two others – Susanna Awortwe and Francis Eshun – to claim she has been kidnapped in other 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 found guilty of causing fear and deceiving a public officer.
She was sentenced to two years on the first charge of the publication of false news, and six years on the second charge of deceiving a public officer. The court presided over by His Honor Micheal Kwodjoe Ampadu said she will serve a 6-year jail term instead.
Before the Presiding Judge sentenced Joana, he temporarily adjourned proceedings and asked the police to take Joana to the Takoradi hospital for her to undergo a pregnancy test.
The judge, therefore said, the court looked at how Takoradi’s image is being shrink by kidnapping, hence the need for such a punishment to deter others.
The presiding judge, Micheal Ampadu on passing the judgment, said the court looked at the degree of the prevalence of the crime, considered her age and her character, her three-year-old child as well as being a first time offender coupled with the plea… The threat of kidnapping will destroy Takoradi if nothing is done to stop it.
The four Takoradi kidnapped girls’ case is fresh in the minds of the people and Takoradi is becoming synonymous with kidnapping, which is not good for the people of Takoradi and the image of Takoradi. It is clear that her action was to personally benefit from kidnapping and her joke of kidnapping was detrimental to Takoradi and the court thinks the deterrent sentencing must be given.
Source: Miriam Akua Kessie
