The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court ‘1’ has set June 9, 2021 to determine the fate of a beautician, Chantel Nunekpeku, who is appealing her 12 months sentence for distributing her boyfriend’s former girlfriend’s nude pictures on social media.
This decision follows the prosecution team telling the court they have finally submitted their response to the appeal to the court and same being served on the appellant’s lawyers.
Meanwhile, Chantel, who has been convicted for distributing “nude” pictures of her boyfriend’s ex-lover, Destina Tata, had not been attending court since the hearing of the appeal started.
Her lawyers have repeatedly told the court that convict Chantel was out of the jurisdiction and the Covid-19 pandemic incapacitated her coming back to the country.
Although the court had earlier held that Covid-19 can no longer be used as an excuse for her absence, it is determined to go ahead to decide on the case.
Background
Ms Nunekpeku, after her 12 months sentence in 2018 and subsequent application for bail and granting of same, failed to file her appeal processes.
The High Court, upon a prayer by lawyers of Chantel for extension of time to make the application, were granted 21 days to do so and hearing was then slated for April 30, 2021.
The substance of the issue is that Chantel’s boyfriend, Kayode Kalode is a music producer and an ex-lover of the complainant in the matter, Destina Tata, whose photo was shopped onto other person’s nude body and posted on social media.
Chantel and Kalode were accused for photo shopping Tata’s photos and putting the head on someone else’s nude body and distributing same on social media.
The beautician, at the initial stages of her trial pleaded not guilty to the crime, but afterwards changed the plea to guilty, hence a 12-month sentence was handed down to her by the Circuit Court.
Her boy-lover, on the other hand maintained his plea as not guilty and was admitted to bail in an amount of GH?10,000.
Chantel and Kalode were tried for causing the complainant emotional and psychological trauma, thereby undermining her privacy, dignity, integrity and her worth as human being.
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