General News of Friday, 31 May 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ambulance case: Richard Jakpa asks court to strike out charges against him

Richard Jakpa and Godfred Dame Richard Jakpa and Godfred Dame

Richard Jakpa, the third defendant in the high-profile ambulance trial, has submitted an application seeking to have the charges against him dismissed or to have the legal proceedings by the Accra High Court stayed.

His lawyer filed the application on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

In his application, Jakpa argues that the charges and proceedings brought by Attorney-General Godfred Dame represent an abuse of the court's processes and contravene the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Jakpa alleges that the Attorney-General is misusing his constitutional powers by prosecuting him without proper justification.

“PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that this honourable Court shall be moved by THADDEUS SORY ESQ, of MESSRS SORY @ LAW Counsel for and on behalf of the Third Accused/Applicant herein praying the Court for an order; striking out the charges and accordingly terminating the proceedings against the Third Accused/Applicant or alternatively, A stay of the proceedings before the Court against the Third Accused/Applicant.

“AND PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT the grounds of the application are: The Attorney-General at whose instance the Third Accused/Applicant is being prosecuted in the instant suit has brought the charges and instituted the proceedings in abuse of the process of the court and contrary to his constitutional obligations under articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution,” Jakpa's application states.

He further asserted that A-G Dame, in private conversations, admitted there was no substantive case against him.

Last week, Jakpa made headlines when he alleged in court that the Attorney-General had pressured him to provide false testimony against Dr. Ato Forson, another defendant in the trial.

To support Jakpa's claims, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) released a 16-minute phone recording purportedly capturing a conversation between Attorney-General Dame and Jakpa.

The recording reveals Dame, among others, suggesting to Jakpa how to manipulate a court sitting by presenting a medical excuse duty to favour Dame’s travels.

Watch the latest Episode of Everyday People below:





Click here to follow the GhanaWeb General News WhatsApp channel

AM/SARA