AG Tenders All 68 Whatsapp Messages From Jakpa To Court; Defense Lawyers Object As Case Becomes ‘Interesting’

In the ongoing trial of former Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the cross-examination of the third accused, Richard Jakpa, took a notable turn with the introduction of 68 WhatsApp messages sent by Jakpa to Attorney-General Godfred Dame. The State, represented by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, underscored the disparity between the numerous messages from Jakpa and the sparse responses from the AG.

The DPP moved to tender all the messages sent by Jakpa as evidence. Jakpa admitted in court that he had initially contacted the AG prior to the trial, obtaining his number from his cousin, Supreme Court Judge Justice Yonny Kulendi. He conceded that the messages presented in court were selectively chosen, excluding those he considered irrelevant, such as motivational content.

Defense counsel for Jakpa, Mr. Sory, raised an objection, requesting more time to review the messages. Additionally, Dr. Bamba, representing the first accused, objected on the grounds that the messages were not printed in color, despite the fact that Jakpa’s own submission was similarly monochrome. Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, addressing these concerns, instructed the DPP to delay the submission of the messages until the defense had adequate time for review, rescheduling this for Thursday.

The DPP resumed cross-examination, highlighting the assistance Jakpa received from the AG, which was facilitated by Justice Yonny Kulendi. This assistance purportedly led to Jakpa’s release after meeting bail conditions. Jakpa confirmed expressing his gratitude to the AG for this support.

Further, the DPP questioned Jakpa’s credibility, citing his dismissal from the Armed Forces and repeated failures in promotional examinations. Jakpa defended his integrity by presenting his academic records and attributing his exam failures to alleged victimization by his superiors.

The trial is set to continue on June 20, 2024, with further disclosures expected from both the State and Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com