Today, on Tuesday, June 18, during the court proceedings of the Ambulance case, the third accused, Richard Jakpa, openly acknowledged that he was dismissed from the Armed Forces due to misconduct and insubordination.
The cross-examination by the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), uncovered significant revelations.
Jakpa disclosed that he had been commissioned into the Armed Forces in 1998 but was subsequently dismissed in 2007.
He cited allegations of insubordination and repeated failure to pass mandatory intelligence exams as the reasons for his dismissal, occurring five times in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
“Japka confirmed that he was commissioned in the Armed Forces in 1998 and got dismissed in 2007 for misconduct/ insubordination and failure to pass the required intelligence exams 5 times within 7 years.
“He failed in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He however claimed he was only victim of victimization by the senior officers of the Armed Forces because they were envious of his exceptional performance as a soldier,” he added.
Jakpa maintained that his dismissal was unjust, asserting that senior officers victimized him due to jealousy over his exemplary performance as a soldier.
During the proceedings, Jakpa also admitted that the conversation between himself and the Attorney-General (AG), presented in court as Exhibit 10 by the defense, did not encompass the entire dialogue.
He claimed that only portions favorable to their defense were included in the submission.
“Japka confirmed in open court that the conversation between him and the AG that is in circulation and which was tendered in court by the accused persons as Exhibit 10, is actually not the full conversation. And that, they only presented the aspects of the conversation that will help their case,”.
The current Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Ato Forson, and businessman Richard Jakpa face allegations of deliberately causing financial loss to the state amounting to 2.37 million euros through the procurement of ambulances.
Both have pleaded not guilty and are currently standing trial.