An Accra High Court has granted bail to Pastor Hammond Love, a convict serving a 48-month jail sentence for the alleged theft of a Toyota Highlander. The bail was set at GHC2 million, with two sureties to be justified using landed property.
The case, which has captured public attention, centers on a Toyota Highlander valued at $50,000 belonging to Samuel Amankwa, a childhood friend of Pastor Love. In 2017, Pastor Love was accused of selling the vehicle without the owner’s consent after initially agreeing to clear it from the port using his personal funds.
During his trial, the pastor pleaded not guilty, but the presiding judge, Mr. Isaac Addo, found him guilty and handed down a 48-month sentence. Despite the conviction, Pastor Love’s legal team, led by Mr. Kwame Yeboah, filed for bail pending an appeal, arguing that the appeal had a strong likelihood of success.
Arguments Presented in Court
Mr. Yeboah contended that the trial court overlooked key facts, including an agreement where Pastor Love was allegedly instructed to sell the car and deduct expenses. He maintained that his client had no intent to steal the vehicle and emphasized that Pastor Love used his own money to clear the car.
Additionally, the defense dismissed claims by the prosecution that granting bail would result in the pastor absconding, highlighting that he was a family man with respectable individuals willing to serve as sureties.
The prosecution, led by Ms. Rita Ofosua Appiah, opposed the bail application, asserting that the appeal lacked exceptional circumstances and that the judgment delivered by the trial court was sound and lawful. Ms. Appiah argued that there was no substantial error in the judgment to warrant bail, pending appeal.
Background of the Case
According to the prosecution, Mr. Amankwa, a U.S.-based businessman, shipped the unregistered Toyota Highlander to Ghana in 2016. Strapped for cash, he entrusted Pastor Love with the responsibility of clearing the vehicle, with the understanding that he would reimburse him upon his return to Ghana.
Pastor Love claimed he took a loan of GHC40,000 from Loyed Micro Finance Company to clear the car but later sold the vehicle without consulting Mr. Amankwa. Investigations revealed that Loyed Micro Finance Company was not registered with the Registrar General Department, casting doubt on the pastor’s claims.
When Mr. Amankwa returned to Ghana in 2017 and demanded the car, Pastor Love allegedly refused to show it to him, instead requesting reimbursement for the clearing fees and interest. A subsequent police investigation failed to locate the buyer Pastor Love claimed had purchased the car.
Conditions of Bail
Justice Kizita Naa Koowah Quarshie, who presided over the bail hearing, imposed stringent conditions, including the surrender of Pastor Love’s passport to the court registry. The court stipulated that the passport must remain valid until at least November 2025. Pastor Love was also directed to report to the police every Tuesday.
Looking Ahead
Pastor Love’s appeal now awaits a hearing, with his legal team expressing optimism about overturning the conviction. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the case continues to generate debate, particularly about the circumstances of the alleged theft and the handling of the trial.
