Founder of the Heaven Way Champion International Ministry (HWCIM), Patricia Asiedua, also known as Agradaa, has appealed against her 15-years sentence at the High Court in Accra.
She said the sentence handed down by Circuit Court in Accra was unreasonable and not supported by the evidence on record.
Asiedua is also arguing that the trial circuit judge demonstrated manifest bias and personal animosity towards her by persistently engaging in confrontations, harassment, and intimidation of her lawyers in open court, thereby denying her adequate and effective representation.
The appealant also indicated that the sentence of 15 years in hard labour was harsh and excessive taking into consideration the circumstance of the case.
On July 3, the Circuit Court in Accra, presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah, sentenced the self-styled evangelist to 15 years in prison after she was found guilty on multiple counts of defrauding by false pretence and charlatanic advertisements in newspapers.
Mrs Asiedua used her church to defraud members of the public under the guise of “money doubling.”
Before passing sentence, the judge ordered that pregnancy test be conducted on her.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah told the court that on October 10, 2022, the complainants reported to the police that Mrs Asiedua demanded and received money from them under the pretext of giving them various sums of monies in return.
He said upon the receipt of the report, police commenced investigations into the matter which led to the arrest of the convict.
BY MALIK SULLEMANA
