The Kumasi circuit court one, presided over by Her worship Mrs. Christiana Cann, has slapped four juveniles who were captured in the Kumasi Bantama gang-rape video which went viral on social media to 36 months imprisonment each by a family tribunal.
They are to serve their jail term at Mamobi correctional center in Accra.
[ads1]The four juveniles and their compatriot adult accomplice were found guilty of conspiracy to commit defilement
The adult, Ernest Asere 20, was found an additional charge of aiding and abetment and was sentenced by the Circuit Court to 7 years imprisonment with hard labour and subsequently remitted the juveniles to the family tribunal within Kumasi District Court Two for their sentencing where a 36 months jail term has been slapped on each.
Lawyer Yahaya Seidu, One of the Lawyers for the convicts who were not happy with the jail term handed to the juveniles described the sentence as “disappointing”.
He told Awake News that the court did not consider their earlier plea to temper justice with mercy since their clients were first-time offenders and does not have any bad record.
“So, one would have taught that the tribunal would give them a less severe punishment but not the maximum one that has been handed to them,” he said.
Lawyer Seidu said the jail term given to his clients have been the maximum sentence” for any crime committed by a juvenile be it murder or defilement or rape, so, we are a bit disappointed”.
According to him, they are seriously considering the option of appealing against the decision so that the sentence will be cut down.
