WhatsApp Messages Take Center Stage in Ato Forson Trial
In a dramatic turn in the Ato Forson trial, the state presented 68 WhatsApp messages sent by Richard Jakpa to Attorney-General Godfred Dame. Objections were raised by the defense, leading the court to grant time for review.
During cross-examination in the ongoing Ato Forson trial, the state presented 68 WhatsApp messages sent by Richard Jakpa, the third accused, to Attorney-General Godfred Dame, along with two responses from the Attorney-General.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, highlighted the significant number of messages sent by Mr. Jakpa compared to the limited responses from the AG. The DPP sought to tender all the WhatsApp messages sent by Mr. Jakpa.
Mr. Jakpa admitted he introduced himself to the AG before the trial, and he had obtained the Justice Minister's number from his cousin, Supreme Court Judge Justice Yonny Kulendi. Under cross-examination, Jakpa acknowledged that the messages he presented in court were not the full conversation, but only those he deemed relevant to his case. He explained that the remaining messages, which the AG claimed to be 68, were motivational and other non-relevant content.
Objections Raised by Defence
The DPP's attempt to submit the WhatsApp conversation was interrupted by objections from Mr. Sory, the counsel for Mr. Jakpa, who argued that the defense needed more time to study the messages. Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe then asked Dr. Bamba, counsel for the first accused, if he had any objections. Dr. Bamba objected to the submission because the printout was not in color, which surprised the judge since the printout provided by Mr. Jakpa was also not in color.
Court Grants Time for Review
After hearing the objections, the court requested the DPP to withhold the tendering of the messages until the defense had adequate time to review them, scheduling this for Thursday.
Jakpa's Call to AG
The DPP resumed cross-examination, focusing on the assistance provided by the AG to Mr. Jakpa. It was suggested that the AG's first assistance was facilitated by Yonny Kulendi, who helped Mr. Jakpa secure his release after meeting bail conditions. Mr. Jakpa confirmed he called the AG to thank him for this help.
Credibility Under Question
The DPP questioned Mr. Jakpa's credibility, citing his dismissal from the Armed Forces and his repeated failures to pass promotional exams. Mr. Jakpa defended his record by presenting evidence of his academic achievements and claimed his exam failures were due to victimization by superiors.
Next Steps
The trial will resume on June 20, 2024, with both the State and Mr. Cassiel Ato Forson presenting further disclosures.
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