The 29-year-old woman who was arrested by the Takoradi Police in the Western Region for faking her kidnap and demanding GH₵5,000 from her adopted father, has been jailed six years.
The Takoradi Harbour Circuit Court A, presided over by Michael Kwodjoe Ampoadu, sentenced Joana Krah on two counts: deceiving public officer and publication of false news.
The convict was sentenced to two years in prison for publication of false news whilst the offence of deceiving a public officer attracted six years, totalling eight years.
However, the two sentences are to run concurrently hence the six years in prison.
Through investigations, it came to the knowledge of the court that Joana has a child. According to the court, the child will be in custody of Joan’s adopted father while she serves her jail term.
Prior to the day’s court sitting, the Ghana Police Service had indicated that Joana and some two of her accomplices have been processed before the court on Monday October 25, 2021.
Then a suspect, Joana was arrested after turning herself in on Saturday October 23, 2021 following police investigations on her whereabouts upon receiving information from her adopted father on the case.
According to a statement by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kwesi Ofori, she confessed of “only joking with her adopted father that she was kidnapped”.
She was alleged to have conspired to make gains from her adopted father with Susana Awortwe aged 27 and Francis Eshun 27.
Meanwhile the two suspects were granted bail when Joana confessed to the police of planning the kidnap.
Below is a copy of the statement on Joana Krah’s arraignment before the court with her accomplices:
