Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has dismissed a petition from businessman Richard Jakpa, who alleged unfair treatment and rights violations by trial judge Afia Serwaa Botwe.
Jakpa, the third accused in the high-profile ambulance trial, claimed he faced unfair treatment and requested the judge’s transfer, accusing the prosecution of heckling him during cross-examination.
The Chief Justice stated that Jakpa did not provide sufficient evidence to support his claims. Jakpa expressed surprise at the Chief Justice’s decision, insisting that court recordings could corroborate his allegations.
“I received a response from the Chief Justice stating that I didn’t provide evidence, so she cannot transfer the judge. She didn’t say my claims were untrue.
The evidence is in the court recordings, which the Chief Justice could have requested, but she refused to do that and said there was no evidence,” Jakpa said on JoyNews.
Following Richard Jakpa’s complaint of unfair treatment, he has informed the public that he formally approached the Chief Justice, raising concerns about what he views as violations of his fundamental rights and entitlements during the court proceedings.
“Right from the beginning of this trial till today, I have not been treated fairly by the judge. I wrote a petition to the Chief Justice detailing instances of bias, abuse of my human rights, denial of legal representation, and even the right to visit the washroom,” Jakpa stated.