Lawyer for ‘Montie 3’ disappointed by ‘harsh’ punishment

Mr. George Loh, lawyer for the two Montie FM panelists has stated that he is disappointed over the decision of the Supreme Court to hand a four month jail term to his clients, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn.

Nelson, Ako Gunn all belonging to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and talk show host Salifu Maase aka ‘Mugabe’ were jailed Wednesday after they were found guilty for issuing death threats to judges of the Supreme Court.

Owners of the station were also found guilty of contempt and have been fined GHc30, 000, to be paid to the court by close of day Thursday or face a jail term of one month.

Nelson, Ako Gunn and Maase were immediately whisked into a Police van and taken away to the prison where they would serve their sentence.

The accused were found guilty for scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the court and bringing it into disrepute by the court presided over by Justice Sophia Akuffo.

Mr. Loh who pleaded with the court that his clients were first time offenders told Joy News after the ruling that he is disappointed but not surprised by the ruling.

He described the ruling as harsh since his clients were first time offenders.

He, however, ruled out any possibility of a review of the judgment saying they stand no chance of being successful if they go ahead with such a move.

Background

Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, who were panelists on ‘Pampaso’, a political programme on Montie FM in Accra on June 29, warned judges of Ghana’s highest court to be wary of their conduct in the case involving the Electoral Commission and Mr Abu Ramadan if they did not want to suffer the fate of the three members of the bench who were shot to death and burnt on June 30, 1982 in the era of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

The Supreme Court had to adjourn the case to July 18 after the contemnors argued that they were not served with the writ until the morning of the hearing day, a position which was corroborated by the court registrar.

by-starrfm