The Attorney General has submitted into evidence the dismissal letter of the third accused, Richard Jakpa, in the case of the Republic, Minority leader, Cassiel Ato Forson and others.
This was to establish that Mr Jakpa’s departure from the Armed Forces was due to misconduct, contradicting his claim of an honorable discharge during cross-examination by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The dismissal letter was issued by the Ghana Armed Forces in 2007.
The dismissal letter, read aloud in court, reveals Jakpa’s removal from the Ghana Army in November 2007 “for unsatisfactory conduct marked by fraudulent conduct, abrasiveness, general indiscipline” asserting that his behavior was incompatible with the Army’s standards of decency and gentlemanly conduct.
Signed by Brigadier General MKG Ahiaglo on behalf of the Chief of the Army Staff at the time, the letter also highlights Jakpa’s failure to advance to the rank of Captain despite eligibility, leading to his discharge due to inefficiency.
Before the Attorney General presented the dismissal letter, Richard Jakpa’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, objected in court, arguing that Jakpa had not been given the opportunity to identify or associate with all the documents sought to be tendered as evidence.
“We are objecting to the tendering of the letter addressed to the Attorney General through the witness. We also object to the document dated 12 September 2007, the addressee of which is not stated and also not copied to the accused person.
“The witness was not even given the benefit of identifying, let alone associating with these documents. He was only made to identify the letter dated 22 October 2007, and he explained that he had knowledge of it and could speak to it. No background was laid in respect of the first two letters which justify the tendering of those two letters through him, especially that he had denied knowledge of the other letters,” Mr Sory said in open court.
In response, Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah countered that the documents were relevant to Jakpa’s case as they pertained to his military release and were crucial in assessing his character.
Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, after considering arguments from both sides, ruled that all documents presented by the Attorney General were relevant and admissible, noting that Jakpa had acknowledged them and could speak to their contents.
During cross-examination, Jakpa admitted that his company received 28.7% of the government payment to Big Sea under an ambulance contract, totaling approximately 700,000 Euros.
The court session has been adjourned to Tuesday, July 2, 2024, for the Attorney General to continue cross-examining Richard Jakpa, with expectations that the process will conclude in the coming week.