We regret to report that Pastor Hammond Love, popularly known as Pastor Love, has been convicted of theft and subsequently sentenced to 48 months in prison with hard labor. This comes after a prolonged seven-year trial, as reported by GBC Ghana Online.
Pastor Love, who is also known as the former husband of gospel musician Obaapa Christie, was found guilty of the offense before pleading with the court for mercy and expressing his willingness to pay any fine imposed on him.
Presiding over the case, Judge Isaac Addo took into account the fact that this was the first offense committed by Pastor Love. However, the court emphasized that as a pastor, he was expected to uphold a high level of integrity and trust, making the 48-month jail term a justifiable deterrent.
The case, as presented by ASP Frimpong, outlined that Pastor Love was entrusted by a US resident, Samuel Amankwah, to clear a 4×4 vehicle from the port in 2016. Subsequently, Pastor Love cleared the vehicle using his own funds and was instructed by the owner to sell it for US$50,000, deducting the amount he paid as duty.
Despite these instructions, Pastor Love failed to produce the vehicle when requested by the owner upon his arrival in Ghana in April 2017. This led to the owner lodging a complaint with the police, resulting in Pastor Love's arrest in May 2017.
During interrogation, Pastor Love claimed to have sold the vehicle for GH¢80,000 in order to repay a loan of GH¢40,000 with 20 percent interest that he had secured to clear the vehicle. However, he was unable to provide evidence of the loan or details of the vehicle's buyer.
In delivering the verdict, the judge highlighted Pastor Love's dishonesty and lack of transparency throughout the proceedings.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding integrity and trust, especially for individuals in positions of influence and leadership. It is our hope that justice has been served and that all parties involved can find closure.
As this story unfolds, we are reminded of the significance of accountability and ethical conduct in our society. We trust that this case will prompt reflection and dialogue on these critical values.
-By Tetteh Belinda | GhanaCrimes
