An Accra High Court will be delivering its verdict on an appeal application brought before it by a beautician, Chantel Nunekpeku, who had been sentenced 12 months into prison by a Circuit Court for distributing her boyfriend’s former lover’s naked pictures on social media.

The court presided over by Justice Mrs Merlyn Wood on Friday, May 28, 2021 told the appellant, Chantel and the respondent, Attorney General’s Department that the case will be concluded on July 9.

This decision follows the prosecution telling the court they have finally submitted their response to the appeal and same being served on the appellant’s lawyers on that Friday’s hearing.

Meanwhile, Chantel who has been convicted for distributing “naked” pictures of her boyfriend’s ex-lover, Destina Tata, had not been attending court since the hearing of the appeal started.

Her lawyers have constantly maintained that Convict Chantel was out of the jurisdiction and the Covid-19 pandemic incapacitated her coming back to the country to attend court.

Hitherto, the court has earlier held that Covid-19 can no longer be used as an excuse for her absence, but it is determined to decide on the case.

Background

Ms Nunekpeku, after her 12 months sentence in 2018 and subsequent application for bail and granting of same, failed vehemently to file her appeal processes.

The High Court upon a prayer by lawyers of Chantel for extension of time to make the application, were granted 21 days to do so and hearing was then slated to April 30, 2021.

The substance of the issue is that, Chantel’s boyfriend, Kayode Kalode is a music producer happens to an ex-lover of the complainant in the matter, Destina Tata, whose photo was shopped onto other person’s nude body and posted on social media.

Hence, Chantel and Kalode were accused for photo shopping Tata’s photos and putting the head on someone else nude body and distributing same on social media.

The beautician at the initial stages of her trial pleaded not guilty to the crime but afterwards changed the plea to guilty, hence a 12-month sentence was handed down to her by the Circuit Court.

Her boy-lover, on the other hand maintained his plea as not guilty and was admitted to bail in an amount of GH₵10,000.00.

Chantel and Kalode were tried for causing the complainant emotional and psychological trauma, thereby undermining her privacy, dignity, integrity and her worth as human being.