An Accra Criminal High Court is set to hear the appeal case of one Chantel Nunekpeku, a beautician who has been convicted 12 months into prison but on bail, pending appeal against the sentence.

The presiding judge, Justice Mrs Merlyn Wood adjourned the case to May 28^th after the state prosecutor informed the court that she had not completed the written response to the appeal submissions made by the convict and her lawyers.

The court on Friday, April 30, 2021, afforded the prosecution some time to finish the writing exercise to enable her respond to the application made by appellant.       

On the other hand, Chantel who has been convicted for distributing “nude” pictures of her boyfriend’s ex-lover, Destina Tata, this time round too was not visible in court.

However, no explanation was offered by her lawyers like the previous time that the court was that Convict Chantel was out of the jurisdiction and the Covid-19 pandemic incapacitated her coming back to the country to face the court.

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.

he beautician in 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.