Pastor Hammond Love, popularly known as Pastor Love has been incarcerated by an Accra Circuit court for stealing. The court sentenced the convict to 48 months in prison with hard labour.
According to GBC Ghana online, the ex-husband of gospel musician, Obaapa Christy was found guilty of the offence after seven years of trial. Reports said the devastated Pastor Love pleaded for mercy before the Judge pronounced the sentence, saying he is willing to pay any fine that would be imposed on him.
The court presided by Judge Isaac Addo considered the fact that convicted Pastor Love is a first-time offender. Judge Isaac Addo, however, said as a Pastor, a high level of integrity and trust is expected of him, hence handed him the 48-month jail term as a deterrent to others.
Facts of the case
GBC Ghana online reports that per the facts of the case presented by ASP Frimpong, a resident of the US, Samuel Amankwah in 2016 shipped a 4×4 vehicle into the country.
Samuel Amankwah, the complainant then tasked Pastor Love to clear the vehicle from the ports. According to ASP Frimpong, the convict further cleared the said vehicle with his money.
The complainant later asked the convict, Pastor Love to sell the vehicle for $50,000 and deduct the money he paid as duty charges.
Later, the complainant told Pastor Love not to sell the vehicle anymore as he would soon travel to Ghana and refund his money.
In April 2017, the complainant arrived in the country and contacted Pastor Love for his vehicle, but the convict was unable to produce it upon several demands.
The complainant reported to the Police and Pastor Love was arrested in May 2017.
The court document asserts that during interrogation, Pastor love told the Police that he secured a loan of GHC40,000 with 20 percent interest to clear the vehicle.
However, the loan was accruing more interest as he delayed so he sold the vehicle at GHC80,000 without the consent of the owner.
According to court document, the convict used GHC70,000 of the money obtained from selling the vehicle to pay off his loan.
Meanwhile, Pastor Love was unable to lead the Police to the said loan company to verify the claim and could not also tell who bought the vehicle.
The Judge said the convict was dishonest to the court.
Source: GBC Ghana online