The Takoradi Circuit Court A in the Western Region has sentenced Josephine Panyin Mensah who is at the centre of the fake pregnancy and kidnap case to a 600-penalty unit fine equivalent to GH¢7,200.
The court presided over by His Worship Michael Ampadu, fined the accused on a charge of publication of false news with intent to cause fear and panic.
Justice Michael Ampadu reading the judgement in a two and half hour duration took turns to read the portions of all eight prosecution witness statements which corroborated the accused person’s confession statement.
He said the accused feigned the act of kidnap and pregnancy because she could not bear the shame of communicating her initial miscarriage to her husband.
He added that the police in the first instance only acted on a reported case of a missing wife, but the issue turned into fake pregnancy and kidnapping after police had found Josephine who admitted same in her caution statement to them.
“The complainant is not a public officer but the husband of the accused…So, nobody can tell me that the accused person deceived a public officer or is liable…I therefore acquit and discharge her on that count,” he said.
“She told the police that she was kidnapped and when she gained consciousness, she saw 12 other pregnant women where she was, who had all been killed. So, if you have a relative who is pregnant and maybe had travelled, this piece of information when you hear it will obviously make you panic,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the maximum sentence for the count of publishing of false news with intent to cause fear and panic is three years, judge Michael Ampadu opted for a fine of 600 penalty units because Josephine Panyin Mensah is pregnant.
On the first charge of deceiving a public officer, the court found Josephine Panyin Mensah not guilty as, according to the presiding judge, the ingredients necessary to make the charge stick were absent.
Josephine Mensah was charged with a count of deceiving a public officer contrary to the Section 251 (B) of the Criminal Act, and on count two of publication of false news with intent to cause fear and panic contrary to Section 208 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act.
