Source: newsthemegh.com
The third defendant in the ambulance purchase trial, Richard Jakpa, claims that Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame earlier contacted him to assist in constructing a case against Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the former Deputy Finance Minister and minority leader.
Trial judge Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe warned Jakpa during cross-examination by the Minority Leader’s attorney to be direct in his answers and not to waste the court’s time.
Attorney-General Yeboah Dame accused Jakpa of standing up for the Minority Leader when the judge expressed caution.
Mr. Jakpa responded to this claim by saying that the Attorney-General appeared resentful since he had previously failed to persuade him to assist the state in constructing a case against Dr. Ato Forson.
“The A-G has on several occasions engaged me at odd hours to help him make a case against A1 and I have evidence for that.. If he pushes me, I will open the Pandora’s box. I don’t understand why the A-G will accuse me of defending A1 when I’m here to defend myself,” “If he pushes me, I’ll open the Pandora’s box. I have evidence to all this,” Mr Jakpa said in court.
Judge Serwah Asare-Botwe called for water to be delivered to Richard Jakpa and told him to lower his voice in try to defuse the situation.
Despite taking the bottle of water, Mr. Jakpa declined to drink it, saying he was too distraught.
After taking a brief break from the hearing, the judge summoned the attorneys representing Dr. Ato Forson and the Attorney General to a conference.
On trial for allegedly causing financial harm to the state through the importation of thirty ambulances are the former deputy minister of finance and two other defendants.
These were a part of the 2012 agreement for the purchase of 200 ambulances between the Ministry of Health and Big Sea Limited, a company based in Dubai.