By Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, Oct. 02, GNA- Pastor Hammond Love of the Action Grace Chapel International has been sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for stealing.
Pastor Love, the ex-husband of Obaapa Christie, a gospel musician, was found guilty by the Court at the end of the trial which lasted for seven years.
He is said to have stolen a Toyota Highlander valued $50,000 a property of Samuel Amankwa, a childhood friend, in the year May 2017.
Pastor Love, who told the court that his lawyer was at the hospital, in his plea for mitigation, prayed that he should be forgiven and fined.
According to him, he has never had any brush with the law and has never been to any court or police station.
“Forgive me and have mercy on me,” Pastor Love told the court.
The trial Jugde, Mr Isaac Addo, indicated that accused was a first-time offender.
According to the Court, from its records, the accused person was a pastor, adding, to hold such a high position, a high standard of integrity was expected of him, especially in the matter of trust.
“The Court would therefore pass a fairly deterrent sentence; hence the accused person would serve 48 months IHL,” the court said.
Prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Seth Frimpong said the complainant, Samuel Amankwa was a businessman, residing in United States while Hammond Love, the accused person, now convict was a pastor, residing in Accra.
ASP Frimpong said on November 30, 2016, the complainant shipped an unregistered Toyota Highlander into the country.
Prosecution said Mr Amankwa informed the accused that he did not have money at the time to clear the car and the convict accepted to clear it with his money for the complainant to refund to him on return to Ghana.
The Court heard that the complainant told Love to sell the car at $50,000 after clearing it.
Prosecution said the complainant later informed Love not to sell the vehicle till he arrives in Ghana.
According to the prosecutor, Love indicated that he obtained a loan facility of GHC40,000 from Loyed Micro Finance Company Limited with GHC2,000 interest on every GHC10,000 a month to clear the car by February 1, 2017.
Love indicated that the loan was accruing interest every month and as a result he sold the car without the knowledge and consent of the complainant.
Prosecution said checks at the Registrar General Department disclosed that that Loyed Microfinance Company did not exist in their system.
The prosecution said the complainant arrived in Ghana from USA in April 2017 and confronted Love for his car, but he (Love) demanded that the complainant should pay an amount of GHC50,000 being the loan he used to clear the vehicle and the interest of $2,000 being shipment fees.
The Court heard that the complainant demanded to see the car before payment but that was denied.
On May 25, 2017, the complainant reported the case to the East Legon Police and Love was arrested. Love was asked to produce car he claimed he sold to one Pastor Johnson for GHC80,000, but he failed. Love also failed to produce the buyer.
Prosecution said all efforts made by the Police for Love to assist in tracing the said buyer and the microfinance company failed.
GNA