An Accra High Court has granted a GH¢2- million bail to Pastor Hammond Love, who is currently serving 48 months jail term for stealing.
The court admitted him to bail in the sum of GH¢2 million with two sureties to be justified with landed property.
Pastor Love was jailed for 48 months for stealing a Toyota Highlander valued at $50,000 belonging to his childhood friend, Samuel Amankwa, in the year 2017.
Charged with stealing, he pleaded not guilty.
The trial Judge, Mr Isaac Addo, at the end of the trial, found Pastor Love guilty and sentenced him accordingly.
The court presided over by Justice Kizita Naa Koowah Quarshie ordered Pastor Love to submit his passport to the Court Registry.
It, however, explained that the passport should not expire before November 15, 2025.
Additionally, it ordered the serving convict to report to the Police every Tuesday.
Pastor Love through his lawyer, Mr Kwame Yeboah, filed an application for bail, pending an appeal before the court.
Mr Yeboah said the appeal filed for his client had a chance of succeeding and that there was an exceptional circumstance to the matter.
The counsel noted that a look at the facts before the lower court, and the trial judge admitted that the convict used his own money to clear the vehicle and after clearing, he informed the complainant.
According to the applicant’s counsel, the complainant told the accused to sell the vehicle for $ 50,000 and deduct the charges.
He said the trial judge could
not turn around and say that the accused person stole the vehicle.
He debunked the state’s assertion that when his client was granted bail, he would not appear to stand trial.
Counsel further outlined that his client had respectable people to stand as sureties when granted bail and the convict was married with children, hence would not abscond when granted bail.
The state led by Ms Rita Ofosua Appiah, an Assistant State Attorney, strongly opposed the application for bail, pending appeal.
According to Ms Appiah, the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the appeal was likely to succeed, and it had an exceptional circumstance.
She disagreed with the applicant lawyer’s submission that there were errors on the face of the judgement.
Ms Appiah argued that the judgement was sound in law and invited the High Court judgement to dismiss the application for bail, pending an appeal.
Prosecution led by ASP Seth Frimpong said the complainant, Samuel Amankwa was a businessman, residing in the United States, while Hammond Love, a pastor, resided in Accra. —GNA