Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has explained why NPP thugs who recently invaded UTV studios were fined only ¢2400.
Martin Kpedu explained that the particulars of a case and the behavior of the accused individuals carry significant weight in determining the penalties imposed upon them.
He emphasized that the UTV intruders’ acknowledgment of their guilt and their avoidance of wasting the court’s time and resources influenced the judge’s decision to levy a modest fine of only 20 penalty points, equivalent to GHC 2400.
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Martin Kpedu Explains Why NPP Thugs Who Invaded UTV Were Fined Only ¢2400
“When an accused person comes to court and admits his guilt straight away on day one, when the charges are read, the punishment is usually far lower than if he says I’m not guilty and the court spends years in determining the case… If the accused says he is not guilty and the case is dragged through a full trial to the end, then the sentence is usually much, much higher.” he said.
Martin Kpebu, further clarified that the accused parties faced charges of a misdemeanor, specifically conspiracy to commit a crime and rioting, which generally incur fines and a maximum imprisonment term of three years.
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However, he underscored the importance of the conviction of the NPP members who stormed the TV station, stating that this verdict would have far-reaching consequences for them. This conviction is likely to follow them wherever they go and may lead to missed opportunities and setbacks in the future.
This comes after the 16 NPP thugs who invaded United Television on Saturday, 7th October, 2023, have been convicted and fined 200 penalty units which amounts to Ghc2400 each by the Achimota Magistrate Court.
The men were charged with criminal conspiracy. The individuals who accepted the accusations were later found guilty by the court