Businessman Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance trial involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reportedly stated that he met with the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Dame, four times to discuss the case.

According to a report by thelawplatform.online, Jakpa, during cross-examination by the lead counsel of Dr. Ato Forson, Dr. Aziz Bamba on Thursday, June 13, 2024, told the court that he requested these meetings with Godfred Dame.

The report indicated that the third accused told the court that the Attorney granted him his request and one of the meetings was arranged by Justice Yonny Kulendi, a justice of the Supreme Court.

He mentioned that the purpose of the meeting was to allow him to explain the "whole story" to Dame to demonstrate why the charges against him were unfounded.

He added that he got his wish and was able to tell the Attorney General the entire story.

Jakpa also provided details of the meeting that took place in the presence of Justice Yonny Kulendi to the court.

The businessman also indicated that the state had no case against the defendants because the 200 ambulances at the heart of the trial are not defective as asserted, adding that the case was based on witch-hunting and political point-scoring.

He alleged that the Attorney urged him to cooperate in having Dr. Forson jailed so that his parliamentary seat would be declared vacant for a by-election.

Meanwhile, the court, during the proceedings on Thursday, admitted into evidence the leaked phone conversation between Attorney General Godfred Dame and Richard Jakpa.

The court set Thursday, June 13, 2024, to rule on the admissibility of an audio recording, where the Attorney General is heard allegedly coercing Richard Jakpa to testify in a certain manner.

The presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, delivering her ruling on Thursday, stated that the reasons she gave for admitting the recording during the mistrial application on June 6, 2024, still apply.

Justice Asare-Botwe noted that, in the interest of fairness, the pen drive containing the recording has been admitted, as it would have been if presented by the prosecution.

BAI/OGB

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