Pardon Akuapem Poloo, sentence too harsh – Sammy Gyamfi to Akufo-Addo

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The National Communications Officer of opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, wants the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, to remit the three-month sentence of Ghanaian actress, Rosemond Alade Brown, popularly known as Akuapem Poloo.

In a Facebook post, Gyamfi said the sentence is too harsh and high-handed although Akuapem Poloo was sentenced on her own plea.

“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. #FreeAkuapemPoloo”.

Akuapem Poloo was sentenced for 90 days in jail by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly going nude on social media in front of her son.

On Wednesday, the Court convicted her and ordered for a pregnancy test for her before her sentencing today.

The court said in the law, before handing down a sentence on a female accused person who had not reached menopausal age, a pregnancy test ought to be conducted.

She was therefore remanded into police custody.

Akuapem Poloo is being held over charges of publication of obscene materials and two counts of engaging in domestic violence.

She pleaded guilty to all three charges and was convicted on her own plea by the court presided over by Christina Cann.

The defence counsel, Andy Vortia, who seemed surprised by the court’s order, said the order implied that his client was going to be convicted.

When the case was called Vortia informed the court, presided by Christina Cann, that Poloo would like to change her plea.

The facts as narrated by the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Agartha Asantewaa, were that the complainant, Bright K. Appiah, director of Child Rights International Ghana, had petitioned the director-general of CID about a nude photo posted on Instagram by Akwapem Poloo that had gone viral.

On June 30 this year, the prosecution said Rosemond 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.

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.

The prosecution said the complainant petitioned the director-general CID and the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU).

Rosemond, the prosecution said, was arrested and in her caution statement, admitted posting the nude picture with her son unintentionally.

A write up accompanying the picture read: “I am naked in front of you because this is how naked I was giving birth to you, so in case you find me lying somewhere don’t pass by but see me as your mom who brought you to life.”

The prosecution held that Rosemond deliberately posted the nude picture together with her son.

Source: Daily Mail GH