General News of Thursday, 4 July 2013

Source: joyonline

Mis-categorised pink sheet stalls cross-examination

The petitioners' cross-examination of the star witness for the Electoral Commission has stalled over a pink sheet that has not been properly categorised.

Philip Addison, lead counsel for the petitioners gave the witness a list of seven pink sheets that were unsigned and asked the witness to confirm this.

But the respondents raised an objection citing a disparity in how the list was categorized.

Quarshie-Idun, counsel for the E.C said the new list numbering seven did not tally with the content of the KPMG report, and they have duly alerted a member of the petitioners’ counsel Akoto Ampaw.

He said according to the petitioners' pleadings, the sheet was identified under category MBJ but had now been found under MBF.

But Addison also explained that the seven pink sheets have duly been captured, and they have provided the corresponding labels in the KMPG report.

The respondents found this irregularity unacceptable, and they were not the least impressed with the explanation by Addison. Tsatsu Tsikata accused the petitioners of constructing a different case.

The judges attempted to rationalize the situation saying if the sheet was found to have been filed and identified by the KPMG report, then its use should be allowed despite the mis-categorisation.

But the respondents would not badge or buy into this. Led by Tsikata, they said the bench cannot set up a case for the petitioners.

Addison has admitted that even though the pink sheets have been captured, there is a need for re-categorisation.

After back-to-back interaction with the bench, it was discovered that Dr.Bawumia star witness for the petitioners had re-categorised it but did not tender it.

Addison clarified that attempts to tender the re-categorised list was rejected. He has also assured that the contentious pink sheet was counted only once.

The court has gone on recess and will return to give a ruling on the objection raised by the respondents.