In a contempt matter standing before the court, Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa, commonly known as Afia Schwarzenegger, was fined GHc 60,000 (5,000 penalty units) by a HIGH Court in Tema.
The court also fined the socialite GHc 5,000, which she was ordered to pay to Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, for uttering derogatory remarks about him.
On December 1, 2022, Afia Schwarzenegger was sentenced to ten days in jail for contempt of court.
Afia Schwarzenegger, on the other hand, was not there on the day of the announcement.
She appeared in court on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, with her lawyer, Adrian Duke Amaning, who brought 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 suspension of an order and discharge of a person convicted, respectively.
Order 50 Rule 4(1) states that the court, which makes an order of committal, may by an order direct that the execution of the order of committal shall be suspended for such period or on such other terms and conditions as it may specify, while Rule 5 (1) states that the court may, on the application of any person committed to prison for contempt of court, discharge the person.
Read Also: Idris Elba in talk to open film studio in Tanzania
Mr Amaning further stated that his client had expressed regret and had now published an apology to the court.
At its meeting on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, the court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ankamah approved the convict’s motion and reduced the jail term to 5000 penalty units.
The judge also ordered her to sign a 36-month good conduct bond. She was also directed not to comment on the matter on any platform while the bail remained pending.
The judge ordered that any violation of the orders result in her being dragged back to court.
The applicant deserves a second opportunity, according to the court, because she has apologized and demonstrated regret.
Recall
Chairman Wontumi brought Afia Schwarzenegger and other defendants, including United Television (UTV), to court in July 2022 after she and the other defendants provided commentary on a matter 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.
A fourth individual, Fadda Dickson Narh, an Executive Producer of United Television (UTV), was pardoned by the court after the court determined that he demonstrated contrition prior to the case by forcing an apology to be broadcast on UTV.
SOURCE: GRAPHIC SHOWBIZ
