She was admitted to a bail of GHS 50,000 with two sureties.
The court was presided over by His Honour Michael Cudjoe Ampadu.
On her first appearance in court on Monday, she pleaded not guilty to the charges of deceiving a public officer and publication of false news with intent to cause fear and panic.
The case has been adjourned to be reconvened on October 14, 2021.
This is despite claims by the police that she confessed to faking her kidnapping and pregnancy.
She was arraigned before a Takoradi Habour Circuit Court on Monday 27th September,2021.
The Police prosecuting team led by Superintendent Emmanuel Basintale told the court that the suspect admitted to the offenses.
“She was at the Takoradi hospital four times with pelvic inflammatory disorder and not pregnancy… She however confessed to the Police that she faked her pregnancy in the presence of the mother and the medical personnel before the Police came in…. I want to correct the wrong impression created that she was arrested and kept for seven days. She was only released to the police on Friday hence she has been in the custody for just two-days. The lady was also informed of her right to bring a counsel of her choice while in police custody hence the police didn’t breach her constitutional rights. Her confession was actually made at the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in the presence of the mother and the doctor before the police were called in, so she was not forced to confess”, he said.
Her lead defence Counsel, Philip Fiifi Buckman prayed to the court that she had already served the 48 hours in the police hands and since the charges are all misdemeanors and bailable, she must be granted bail.
“She has been in the hands of the police for one good week and very weak. Since the Police are saying they have completed their investigations hence they are in court, we plead for her to be given bail. She has several persons ready to stand surety and provide evidence to defend her. Everything we have heard today can be contested very well in court and the constitution also give the police 48 hours to keep her. If you look at the charges preferred against the accused they are all misdemeanor which is bailable therefore we pleaded the court to exercise its discretion to give her bail”, he said.
His Honour Michael Cudjoe Ampadu before granting Josephine Panyin Mensah justified the defense counsel’s argument.
“As submitted by the counsel, the offices are all bailable and it is true that the accused remain innocent until proven guilty. In the mind of this court, if it was not because this case is connected to kidnapping which is why it has created a public outcry, it wouldn’t have been a simple issue between a husband and wife. However, these charges are bailable so the court grants bail to the accused in the sum of GHS 50,000 with two sureties and one to be justified”, he said.
