The High Court judge who sentenced the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako to jail for twenty years, Her Ladyship Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, has explained that she did so to save the environment.
This is contained in the 59-page judgment sighted by 3news.
“The Court takes notice of the gravity of the offences, and the need for deterrence to avert the environmental disaster that might befall the nation, the more law enforcement stays aloof and allows illegal mining activities to persist in the country,” she wrote.
According to him, “The offences in this case relate to illegal exploitation of mineral resources, which are the property of the State. The conduct of the 1st and 3rd accused persons undermines the regulatory framework for the mining sector and contributes to environmental degradation associated with illegal mining.”
Madam Kocuvie-Tay said she decided not to give Chairman Wontumi the maximum sentence because he is a first-time offender.
“Having listened to counsel for 1st and 3rd accused plea in mitigation, the 1st and 3rd accused person are sentenced as follows; Taking into account, the fact that the 1st and 3rd accused persons are 1st time offenders, and generally their plea in mitigation, the court sentences the accused persons as follows: On count 1 the 1st accused is sentenced to serve a term of 20 years imprisonment in hard labour, and also to a fine of 10,000.00 penalty units in default serve 3 years in hard labour.”
“On count 4, the 1st accused is sentenced to serve a term of 20 years imprisonment in hard labour, and also to a fine of 10,000.00 penalty units in default serve 3 years in hard labour. On count 3 the 3rd accused is sentenced to pay a fine of 15,000 penalty units. On count 6, the 3rd accused is sentenced to pay a fine of 15,000 penalty units. The sentences are to run concurrently,” she concluded.
