29-year-old Joana Krah who faked her abduction at Takoradi in the Western Region has been sentenced to six years imprisonment.
She was found guilty of causing fear and deceiving a public officer.
She was sentenced to two years on her first charge of the publication of false news and six years on the second charge of deceiving a public officer.
The court presided over by His Honor Micheal Kwodjoe Ampadu said she will serve a 6-year jail term instead.
“In passing the judgement, the court looked at the degree of the prevalence of the crime, considered her age and her character, her three-year-old child as well as being a first time offender coupled with plea… The threat of kidnapping will destroy Takoradi if nothing is done to stop it. The four Takoradi kidnapped girls’ case is fresh in the minds of the people and Takoradi is becoming synonymous with kidnapping, which is not good for the people of Takoradi and the image of Takoradi. It is clear that her action was to personally benefit from kidnapping and her joke of kidnapping was detrimental to Takoradi and the court thinks the deterrent sentencing must be given“, the presiding judge said.
Joana was arrested together with two others Susana Awortwe, 27 and Francis Eshun 27 were arrested for trying to extort money by means of kidnapping.
Francis Eshun and Susana helped Joana fake her kidnapping in order to extort GHS5,000 from her stepfather.
However, after realising that the stepfather had involved the police and there were frantic efforts underway, Joana reported herself and was arrested.