Emmanuel Archibald Laryea, the 47-year-old labourer arrested with 15 biometric voter identity cards, was on Tuesday sentenced to a fine of GHc6,000 or in default would serve a two-year-jail term for engaging in multiple registrations. In addition, the Accra District Magistrate’s Court sentenced Laryea to GHc600 fine or in default would serve nine months imprisonment for causing bodily harm. It said the sentences were to run consecutively to serve as a deterrent to others. The court presided over by Mr Ali Baba Bature ordered that all the biometric voter identity cards should be destroyed in the presence of officials of the Electoral Commission and personnel of the Ghana Police Service. Soon after the court had handed down the sentence, Laryea’s brother produced a card purportedly to show that his brother was a psychiatric patient, but the court did not accept it.
Laryea, at the last sitting pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in multiple registrations and causing harm to Lance Corporal William Afedor by biting his thumb. The court convicted Laryea on his own plea and remanded him into custody. Earlier, answering questions as to why he flagrantly violated the law and engaged in multiple registrations, Laryea said he had a psychiatric problem. A lawyer who acted as friend of the court pleaded with the court and requested that Laryea be sent to the Psychiatric Hospital for medical examination.
Full Article: Man with 15 voter ID cards fined GHC6,000 | Local News.
