In a contempt case pending before the Tema High Court, socialite Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa, popularly known as Afia Schwarzenegger, was fined GH60,000 (5,000 penalty units).
The court also fined the socialite GH5000, which she was ordered to pay to Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, for making defamatory remarks about him.
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On December 1, 2022, Afia Schwarzenegger was sentenced to ten days in prison for contempt of court.
Afia Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, was not present on the day of the announcement.
She appeared in court on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, with her lawyer, Adrian Duke Amaning, who moved a motion on notice for a sentence variation.
He asked the court to suspend the sentence under Order 50 Rule 4(1) and Rule 5 of the High Court (Civil Procedures) Rules, which deal with the suspension of an order and discharge of a person committed, respectively.
Order 50 Rule 4(1) states that the court may, by order, direct that the execution of the order of committal be suspended for such period or on such other terms and conditions as it may specify, whereas Rule 5 (1) states that the court may discharge any person committed to prison for contempt of court on the application of the person.
Mr. Amaning also stated that his client had expressed remorse and had since published her apology to the court.
At its meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, the court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ankamah granted the convict’s application and reduced the jail sentence to 5000 penalty units.
The court also ordered her to sign a 36-month good behavior bond.
She was also ordered not to comment on the case on any platform while the bond was pending.
The court ordered that any violation of the orders result in her being hauled back to court.
The applicant deserves a second chance, according to the court, because she has apologized and demonstrated remorse.
Chairman Wontumi dragged Afia Schwarzenegger and other defendants, including United Television (UTV), to court in July 2022 after she and the other defendants ran a commentary on a case pending before the court during an entertainment show, United Showbiz, broadcast on UTV.
Felicity Ama Agyeman, alias Nana Ama Mcbrown, Kwame Asare Obeng, alias Kwame A-Plus, and Emmanuel Barnes, alias Mr. Logic, were fined GH60,000 (5,000 penalty units) each, which they have since paid.
Fadda Dickson Narh, an Executive Producer of United Television (UTV), was pardoned by the court after the court determined that he demonstrated remorse prior to the case being brought before it by apologizing on UTV.
Source: Graphic Online