Entertainment pundit, Ola Michael
Entertainment pundit Ola Michael has praised Ghanaian socialite and actress, Hajia4Reall for her strategic legal moves following her sentencing over her involvement in fraud.
Hajia4Reall, real name Mona Faiz Montrage, was sentenced to one year and one day in a U.S. prison for her role in a romance scam totalling over $2 million.
She was arrested in the UK in November 2022 and was extradited to the U.S. in May 2023.
Despite facing a potential five-year sentence after pleading guilty in February 2024, the judge granted leniency, partly to allow for "good time" in her sentencing.
Speaking on the live broadcast of UTV’s United Showbiz, which aired on June 29, 2024, Ola Michael said that Hajia4Reall's decision to cooperate with the court, her admission of guilt on certain counts, and her commitment to repay the victims played a pivotal role in her lenient sentencing.
He stated that while similar cases resulted in sentences ranging from 36 to 42 months, Hajia4Reall's 12-month and one-day sentence was a result of her hiring competent lawyers for her case.
"Don't underrate the lady, she's smart, she picked an intelligent lawyer and has gotten the best deal out of the whole affair.
"Look at her case, she didn't stress the court, she admitted that she was guilty in some of the counts but had no knowledge of the processes involved. She also agreed to pay the people back.
"While others were getting 36 to 42 months sentences, she had 12 months and 1 day, I'm sure she was singing 'Hallelujah'," he stated.
Ola Michael also highlighted that her show of remorse, including tears shed over the potential impact of a heavy sentence on her child, may have swayed the court's decision.
"I heard she even cried in court, because she had a child and a heavy sentence would affect the child. What she did was show remorse.
"Even before the sentencing, people came to testify on her behalf about how she was a good person and all that," he said.
According to him, her behaviour throughout her trial, coupled with her competent lawyers, was responsible for her lenient sentencing.
"All these were things that she was advised by her lawyers have worked for her. Whoever advised her on what to do knew all these things were going to happen," he added.
ID/BB
