General News of Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Source: starrfmonline.com

Prosecute sacked corrupt judges – Emile Short

Justice Emile Short, Fmr. CHRAJ boss Justice Emile Short, Fmr. CHRAJ boss

Anti-corruption campaigner Justice Emile Short has asked the Attorney General to consider prosecuting the 20 judges who have been sacked for taking bribes to throw away cases.

The Chief Justice Theodora Georgina Wood dismissed the magistrates and district court judges following a two-year painstaking investigations by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Anas petitioned the chief justice to impeach 34 judges who were caught on video in his judicial corruption scandal.

Justice Short believes dismissal is not enough to deter others from the act.

“These judges and magistrates are still open to criminal prosecution. This decision only affects their position on the bench. They have been removed from the bench… and the fact still remains that corruption is a criminal offence,” the former commissioner of CHRAJ told Joy News’ News Desk.

“It is up to the attorney general to decide that in the cases of these judges criminal prosecutions will follow. So I think we should keep this in mind.”

About 130 other Judicial Service staff are being investigated over the undercover investigations.

The CJ has given the strongest indication that more judges are likely to face sanctions in the coming weeks once the probing committee finishes with its work.