Whether or not to admit Jakpa,Dame audio conversation: Court to decide June 13 in Ambulance case
By DL News
Published
Updated
2 min read
This follows an objection raised by state prosecutors against the tendering of the tape by lawyers for the first accused.
The High Court in Accra has set Thursday, June 13, 2024, to decide whether the taped conversation between Richard Jakpa and Attorney General, Godfred Dame should be admitted as evidence.
This follows an objection raised by state prosecutors relative to the tendering of the tape by lawyers for the first accused.
Today, the said audio was played in open court after which counsel for Mr Ato Forson attempted to tender into evidence.
However, state prosecutors led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa objected to the submission.
She argued that the audio lacks a proper foundation for admissibility and has no significance in determining the actions against the accused persons.
Also, the DPP told the court that the defense had not indicated any crime the AG was attempting to prevent, thus rendering the audio irrelevant and inadmissible.
On their part, counsel for first accused, Dr. Abdul Aziz Basit Bamba described the DPP's objection as "frivolous and untenable arguing that the audio is highly relevant to the case since it showed the Attorney General, attempting to undermine the constitution.
He added that the AG's action amounted to contempt of court and an abuse of authority, asserting that the AG overstepped his role by trying to get an accused to accept his theory.
As such, the lead counsel insisted that a proper foundation had been laid since the third accused admitted to interacting with the AG.
After listening to both sides, the presiding Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe JA, who is serving as an additional High Court judge, adjourned the case to Thursday, June 13, for a ruling.
The Minority Leader and businessman, Richard Jakpa, is being charged with a financial loss of €2.37 million related to a 200-ambulance procurement deal between 2014 and 2016.
They have, however, pleaded not guilty to charges including wilfully causing financial loss, abetment, violation of the Public Procurement Act, and misapplication of public funds.
According to the prosecution, the procurement process, initiated in 2009, involved defective ambulances that lacked medical equipment, thus causing financial loss to the state.
