Ghanaian actress Rosemond Alade Brown made the headlines of the majority of news websites and blogs in the country and around the continent over the past week.
She became a topical issue after an Accra Circuit Court convicted the social media personality for posting an obscene image of herself and her seven-year-old to celebrate his birthday in June last year [2020].
Popularly known as Akuapem Poloo, the outspoken personality was summoned after Child Rights International Ghana petitioned the court over the matter.
Following a social media backlash, after she posted the photo, the actress explained that she put the photo out with an artistic perspective in mind.
In the photo, that was posted on her verified Instagram page, she is squatting naked holding the hand of her son, dressed in underwear, and looking directly into her face.
She, however, subsequently apologized for her actions and deleted the video, but it seems that wasn’t enough.
Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in a press statement signed by its minister Cynthia Mamle Morrison read in part: “The Ministry highly condemns this act which is classified as indecent exposure of the child, an act of pornography, degrading and also against the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) and the Criminal and Other Offences Act, (Act 30).
The statement continued that the ministry was liaising with the appropriate agencies to deal with the issue. It further cautioned against posting or sharing nude pictures on social networks stressing that it “is a serious offense and all must desist from the act.”
Charges
In November, the brand ambassador faced three charges of publication of obscene materials, engaging in domestic violence, conduct that in any way undermines another person’s privacy or integrity, and engaging in domestic violence namely conduct that in any way detracts or is likely to detract from another person’s dignity and worth as a human being.
According to the prosecution, the pictures attracted comments, adding that the behavior of the accused person was likely to detract from the dignity of her seven-year-old son among others.
Chief Inspt. Agartha told the court that the complainant petitioned the Director-General Criminal Investigations Directorate and the matter was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit.
Bail
She was subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of GHc100,000 with four sureties after her lawyer Philip Kofi Bekoe had prayed the court to admit her to bail on grounds she is a well-known person.
The Caution
Fast forward to March 2021, when the whole country thought the actress was free, the Judge sitting on the case Her Honour Christiana Cann issued a stern warning to lawyers of Actress Rosemond Brown over the manner they are going about the case.
This was after her wrote to the court asking for the case to be adjourned to May 4 for the Case Management Conference to be held.
The Conviction
Akuapem Poloo’s case started trending on Twitter after Rosemond changed her plea and was convicted on her new plea.
She pleaded guilty to all three charges with her sentencing deferred to Friday, April 16, 2021, for her to undergo a pregnancy test in compliance with the law regarding a woman who has pleaded guilty in court.
She was then remanded into custody for the prosecution to take her to any Government hospital to conduct the pregnancy test.
From this point on, she had started trending at Number one for nearly 36 hours.
The Judgement
Rosemond Brown was on April 16 sentenced to 90 days on each count but the court said, the sentence must run concurrently. This meant she will only serve a 90-day jail term which is three months.
The Court presided over by Her Honour Mrs. Christiana Cann, said such cases are becoming prevalent in society, and Institutions including the court must act. The court said it took into consideration all the plea for mitigation before arriving at the decision.
Cardi B, Sarkodie, Others Appeal To Court
Following her sentencing, several celebrities including her bonafide friend American Rapper Cardi B, Sarkodie amongst others had pleaded for mercy for the actress.
The Bail
The court granted her bail in the sum of GHc80, 000 with two sureties.
This was after her lawyer Andrews Kudzo Vortia on Monday, April 19, 2021, filed a notice of appeal and application for bail against the actress’s custodial sentence at the same time.
The Freedom (High Court)
At the time of her bail application, AKuapem Poloo was already being transported to the Nsawam Prisons.
The prison was later prompted and an announcement went around that she had been granted bail by the High Court in Accra
Poloo had regained her freedom.
For two weeks, the life of the actress must have been in turmoil. She cried in court thought she was gonna lose her child and was traumatized.
This is the beginning of a new journey for her.
As to whether this would shape her conduct on social media, we live to see.
Stay safe Poloo.
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