Kennedy Agyapong pleads not guilty in contempt case

Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, has pleaded not guilty in the contempt case after he allegedly insulted a judge.

This was after the clerk read out his offence.

“On the September 2, 2020, on a program the seat on Net2 Television, available to the court is that you insulted the judge, called him stupid, a foolish judge and even an animal (Kennedy spoke in the local dialect during the show).”

He was charged with insulting a judge, scandalising the court and bringing the name of the court into disrepute.

“Are you guilty or not guilty,” the presiding judge quizzed.

The Assin Central legislator who was then standing, took a deep breath and boldly said “I am not guilty, my Lord”.

After his plea, the controversial, tough-talking law maker listened to a tape played in court containing the contemptuous commentary.

As patrons of the court remained glued to the small computer screen, eagerly gulping down every word that was spewed by Mr Agyapong, who had pleaded not guilty seconds ago, the legislator kept his head down, watching the bare floor.

The court adjourned the case to September 28, 2020.

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The Assin Central MP was hauled before the Accra High Court for spewing ‘unpalatable’ words against a High court judge.

He has been charged with contempt.

At the last sitting, you will recall that the lead counsel for the accused person, Kwame Gyan, had expressed concerns about the high court hearing the said contempt case.

He wanted the court to suspend sitting on the case as they had filed a motion at the Supreme Court with the hearing slated for October 13.

The MP’s lawyers were demanding the court halts hearing the case till the Supreme Court rules on the matter.

However, the High Court judge, Amos Wuntah Wuni, disagreed.

“So the court should not do anything when the case is almost a month away. Your client is simply coming here to explain why he said all those scandalous things.

“The court has the right, power and courage to punish anyone who scandalises its name. The law is the law. If you hold a live wire with your bare hands you will be electrocuted,” judge Wuni held.

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Sentencing for contempt is largely at the court’s discretion. In the July 2016 case against three NDC activists who insulted and denigrated the chief justice, they were sentenced to four months in prison.

Kennedy Agyapong, a businessman and an NPP financier, has a history of making scandalous comments.

He has shown he is not allergic to defamation suits. He was sued by Ivy Heward-Mills, wife of a late NPP MP.  In the suit filed in January 2019, the widow asked for 50million cedis.

Also, a Lebanese-born Ghanaian businessman, Hassan Zein, who also asked for 100million cedis after Ken City Media aired a ‘defamatory video’ of him in April 2019.

A retired Chief State Attorney, Ellen C. Kwawukume, also brought a GH¢25 million defamation suit in September 2018.

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In May 2020, a former government appointee, Joseph Yamin, sued controversial NPP MP, Kennedy Agyapong for defamation and has asked for GH¢95 million.

Many of these cases have not been concluded. But in a case that has come closest to completion, the Accra High Court gave veteran journalist, Mr. Kweku Baako, victory in a defamatory suit he filed against Mr Agyapong.

The MP is to pay him 100,000 cedis in damages. But Mr. Agyapong has appealed the judgment and hearing has not been concluded.

Last February, Parliament reprimanded the Assin Central MP after he was found guilty by the Privileges Committee for calling the House cheap and useless.

Counsel for the legislator, Alexander Afenyo Markin spoke to the media after Friday’s proceedings.

Watch the video below