sentencing – Adomonline.com

Trump’s criminal sentencing delayed until after election

Abigail Bonney — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 04:58:19 +0000

Donald Trump’s sentencing in his Manhattan hush money criminal trial has been postponed until after the November election.

Judge Juan Merchan on Friday delayed the sentencing to 26 November, citing “the unique time frame this matter currently finds itself in” among his reasons.

Lawyers for Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, have used several legal manoeuvres to delay the sentencing, which had been scheduled for 18 September.

A New York jury in May convicted Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, the first time a sitting or former president has been convicted of a crime.

In his decision, Judge Merchan wrote that the case demands “a sentencing hearing that is entirely focused on the verdict of the jury”.

“Their verdict must be respected and addressed in a manner that is not diluted by the enormity of the upcoming presidential election,” he said, setting sentencing to exactly three weeks after the 5 November election.

He said the delay was necessary “to avoid any appearance – however unwarranted – that the proceeding has been affected by or seeks to affect the approaching presidential election in which the Defendant is a candidate”.

“The Court is a fair, impartial and apolitical institution,” the judge continued.

Trump could face a sentence of up to four years in prison, but Judge Merchan also has the discretion to impose a punishment of a fine, probation or a shorter jail term.

Prosecutors in the case accused the former president of concealing a payment to buy the silence of Stormy Daniels, a former adult-film star, in the final days of his 2016 election campaign.

Ms Daniels testified that she and Trump had sex, and that she accepted $130,000 (£99,000) from his former lawyer before the 2016 election in exchange to keep quiet about the encounter.

Prosecutors argued that, by approving a scheme to disguise the money as legal expenses, Trump broke election law.

Trump’s original sentencing date was in July. His lawyers delayed that after a US Supreme Court ruling that granted presidents some immunity from criminal prosecution for “official acts”.

Judge Merchan granted a delay so that the parties could prepare arguments on the effects of the Supreme Court ruling on his case.

A decision on the implications will come on 12 November.

Judge Merchan has already dismissed some arguments made by Trump’s lawyers to delay as “unsubstantiated grievances… that do not merit this Court’s attention”.

But he wrote that sentencing hearings are routinely delayed in other cases for reasons like personal circumstances or scheduling conflicts.

“Given the unique facts and circumstances of this case, there is no reason why this Defendant should be treated differently than any other,” Judge Merchan said.

He added that his decision to delay “should dispel any suggestion” that the court would have made a decision that would be seen in support of “any political party or any candidate for any office”.

Trump has maintained that he did nothing wrong. He told Fox News after the ruling that the “case should be dead”.

On his social media platform Truth Social, the former president re-iterated his claims of innocence, dismissing the case as a “witch hunt” and a “political attack”.

“This case should be rightfully terminated, as we prepare for the Most Important Election in the History of our Country,” he wrote.

A spokesperson for Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney whose office brought the charges, said his team was “ready for sentencing on the new date set by the court”.

If Trump returns to the White House he will have the power to pardon himself of any federal crimes he may have been convicted of.

However, the case in New York – as well as the election interference case in Georgia – are state charges, and presidents do not have the ability to pardon those convicted in state courts.

Plumber, 44, sentenced for breaking into MoMo stall to steal

Abigail Bonney — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 04:49:31 +0000

Forty-four-year-old Samuel Etuah, a plumber, has been sentenced to six years for unlawful entry and stealing by the Hohoe Circuit Court.

On November 25, 2023, Etuah was put before the court.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was fully tried, found guilty, convicted, and sentenced to prison custody.

Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey, that the convict had once been tried and sentenced to jail.

He said the complainant was a farmer and businessman who owned a provision and mobile money business shop while the convict was a plumber.

Chief Inspector Aziati said on October 10 last year at about 0420 hours, the convict went and broke into the provision and mobile money shop and took cash of GH¢2,200.

He said by the time the convict was coming out from the complainant’s shop, a witness in the case saw him and pursued to arrest him but the convict managed to escape.

Chief Inspector Aziati said the convict’s mobile phone fell from his pocket at the scene and the witness called the complainant on phone who came to the shop with his wife, and they detected the theft of the said amount.

He said the complainant took the convict’s mobile phone that fell from his pocket to the police station and made an official report.

During investigations, it was established that the said phone belonged to the convict.

My spirit left my body – Akuapem Poloo opens up on sentencing day

Abigail Bonney — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:47:14 +0000

“It was shocking, I was shaking. I could not sleep during the whole period. I had become pale. On the outlook I looked okay but deep down, those around me knew I was not okay. My spirit left my body”.

These are the web of emotions actress Akuapem Poloo went through on the day she was sentenced to 90 days in the Nsawam prison.

The actress was charged with the publication of obscene materials and indecency after she posted a nude photo of herself and her son to mark his 6th birthday.

Moments after the photo was uploaded on her Instagram on the 30th of June 2020 till the point she secured bail on December 15, 2021, Poloo said she was robbed of sleep.

She told Delay during an interview that she knew her obvious fate the day before her sentencing when the judge requested a pregnancy test, and the demeanor of her lawyer thereon.

“When the judge requested for a pregnancy test, at that time I had not said I was pregnant so my lawyer mumbled under his breath. The judge also added that I should be detained after the test”.

“At that point, I wish I knew a doctor who could have forged my pregnancy test to positive for me. I don’t have any police, doctor, or friend in the services; it’s after my case that I have a lawyer.”

Speaking about her time in Nsawam prison, Akuapem Poloo said her spirit left her body and she became very pale as she stared at the huge gated building.

“I was just weak while imagining my life for the 90 days. I had grown very lean like a broom because I could not eat. They marched me to the washroom and made me squat to know if I have inserted any harmful thing there. After, they made me change my dress, took pictures, and put me in quarantine.”

“I could not eat their food, all I took was malt and sometimes a slice of fried yam. I was scared because I didn’t know what anyone had planned for me. I was helpless”.

Surprisingly, she said her cellmates she was scared of were rather very friendly people and they did their best to cheer her up by gisting her of their own experiences.

Born Rosemond Alade Brown, Akuapem Poloo said her experience has taught her that fame, though sweet, can be very dangerous when overdosed on.

$24m fraud: Court finally sets date for Hushpuppi’s sentencing

Abigail Bonney — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 14:43:10 +0000

A United States court will, on February 14 sentence social media influencer Ramon Abbas Olorunwa (aka Hushpuppi) for allegedly laundering $24 million.

Court documents unsealed in July last year indicated that Hushpuppi could face up to 20 years in prison, and will need to “pay full restitution to the victim(s).”

According to the online medium Neusroom, Hushpuppi will know his fate on Valentine’s Day, after almost two years in detention in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and Los Angeles in the United States.

He pleaded guilty on April 20, last year and, according to Neusroom, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed the date in an email on Tuesday, January 25, this year.

Hushpuppi, 37, is known for posting photos of his lavish lifestyle on Instagram, where he has 2.5 million followers.

Court documents filed in California said Hushpuppi’s crimes cost victims almost $24 million in total.

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Hushpuppi’s trial suspended!

In one scheme, Hushpuppi attempted to steal more than $1.1 million from someone who wanted to fund a new children’s school in Qatar, the documents said.

Court records show he pleaded guilty to this charge on 20 April.

Breaking: Akuapem Poloo jailed

Abigail Bonney — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 09:54:47 +0000

The Accra Circuit Court has delivered its verdict against Akuapem Poloo for posing nude with her then seven-year-old son to mark his birthday.

Following her guilty plea to three charges, Poloo, born Rosemond Brown, was handed a 90 days sentence by the trial court.

The court presided over by Her Honour Christina Cann deferred her sentencing to today, April 16, 2021, for Poloo to undergo a pregnancy test to ensure she was not pregnant before her sentencing is passed.

Her results came out negative, meaning she is fit to serve her imprisonment.

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Akuapem Poloo granted ¢100k bail over obscene photographs

Akuapem Poloo hot!

The controversial actress was, in the course of the trial, admitted to bail in the sum of ¢100,000 with four sureties two to be justified with landed property worth ¢100,000.

Days before her sentencing, a #FreeAkuapemPoloo advocacy made waves on social media, with others pleading with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Facts

The facts as presented by Chief Inspector Agatha Asantewa were that the complainant, Mr Bright K Appiah, is the Director of Child Right’s International Ghana.

On June 30, 2020, the prosecutor said the actress celebrated her son’s (name withheld) seventh birthday and took a nude photograph together with her son half-naked and posted same on her Instagram page which went viral on social media.

According to Chief Inspector Asantewa, “the conduct or behaviour of the accused undermines the privacy or likely to detract the dignity of the son.”

Complaint

The complainant, according to Chief Inspector Asantewa petitioned Director-General/CID and the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU).

Following the complaint, Akuapem Poloo was arrested and on her caution statement to the Police, she admitted posting the nude picture together with her son unintentionally.

According to the prosecutor, the write-up text on her post read: “I’m naked in front of you because this is how naked I was giving birth to you, so in case you find me lying somewhere, don’t pass by but see me as your mom who brought you to life,” indicated that Akuapem Poloo deliberately posted the nude picture together with her son.