We don’t beg here – Judge tells convict

A man believed to be his early 30’s told the Supreme Court that he had come to beg the Court to reduce his sentence.

Richard Nyarko had been sentenced to 35 years over robbery but had his sentence slashed by the Court of Appeal to 25 years.

Not satisfied with the reduction he proceeded to the Supreme Court saying his human rights had been trampled upon hence was seeking its inherent jurisdiction for breach of his rights.

According to the convict, the lower court should have considered the number of years he had spent in lawful custody before convicting him.

The sole Judge Mr Justice Yaw Appau told the ex-convict: “Here we don’t beg.”

Mr Appau after going through the processes filed by convict asked for the person who filed the document for him and the convict said it was his brother.

Judge: You have quoted laws in support of your case; will you be able to argue them out?

Nyarko: No my Lord.

Judge: Do you have a lawyer?

Nyarko:  No my lord.

The sole Judge was of the view that Nyarko should have appealed against his conviction and not to invoke the inherent jurisdiction of the court for breach of human rights.

Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, who was among the lawyers at the Supreme Court acted as a friend of the court and withdrew the processes filed.

The court therefore struck out the processes as withdrawn adding Mr Atta Akyea should assist the ex-convict to put his house in order.

Mrs Marina Appiah Opare, Principal State Attorney, represented the state.

Source: GNA