The Circuit Court in Accra has sentenced Pastor Hammond Love to 48 months in prison in hard labour for stealing a vehicle belonging to a US resident.
Pastor Love was found guilty of the offence after seven years of trial.
The clergyman, popularly known as Pastor Love, pleaded with the court for mercy, saying he was willing to pay any fine that would be imposed on him.
The presiding Judge, Isaac Addo, said he took into consideration the fact that Pastor Love was a first-time offender, in passing the sentence.
The court, however, held that as a pastor, he was expected to uphold the principles of high integrity and trust, and handed him the 48-month jail term as a fair deterrent.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Frimpong, stated that the complainant is Samuel Amankwah, a resident of the US.
The prosecution said in 2016, Amankwah, shipped a 4×4 vehicle to Ghana, and asked Pastor Love to ‘clear’ it from the Port.
The court heard that Pastor Love used his money to pay for duty on the vehicle, after which the complainant told him to sell it for $50,000 and deduct the amount he paid as duty.
ASP Frimpong said later, the complainant told Pastor Love to hold on with the sale of the vehicle as he would travel to the country and refund his money.
The prosecution noted that in April, 2017, the complainant arrived in the country and
contacted Pastor Love for his vehicle, but he could not produce it despite several demands.
Moreover, ASP Frimpong said the complainant lodged a complaint with the Police and Pastor Love was arrested in May, 2017.
The court heard that Pastor Love told the police that he secured a loan of GH¢40,000 cedis with 20per cent interest to enable him pay for duty and clear the vehicle from the Port.
ASP Frimpong indicated that Pastor Love said the loan was accruing more interest, so he sold the vehicle at GH¢80,000 without the consent of the owner and paid GH¢70,000 to the company that granted him the loan.
The prosecution said Pastor Love was unable to lead the police to the company that granted the loan to verify the claim and he could not also tell the police who bought the vehicle.
—myjoyonline
