Richard Jakpa has been Seeking Plea Bargain- A-G Reveals
In the bid to discredit the third accused in the “Ato Forson Ambulance” trial, Richard Jakpa, the Office of the Attorney General has revealed he has embarked on a persistent request for a plea bargain.
It comes after Jakpa in open court disclosed Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, has been impressing on him to implicate to secure conviction for the first accused, Cassiel Ato Forson.
In a counter statement, the Office of the A-G said Jakpa has for a number of times unsuccessully requested for a plea bargain- an agreement in criminal law proceedings, whereby the prosecutor provides a concession to the defendant in exchange for a plea of guilt.
“It is rather the third accused who, by various letters dated 27th April, 2023, 16th May, 2023, 30th May, 2023 and 12th June, 2023, has proposed to the Republic through the Attorney-General to engage in plea bargaining or plea negotiations. This plea bargaining proposal has, to date, not been accepted by the Attorney-General.”
It stated that the third accused has in no way been engaged by the A-G in the matter.
“Even though the law on plea bargaining passed by Parliament permits a prosecutor to negotiate with an accused person after a plea proposal has been made, the Attorney-General has not engaged the third accused person to give false testimony in the matter.”
Trial
The Minority Leader and former deputy Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson is standing trial with Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, and Richard Jakpa, a businessman, for allegedly causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.
They are facing five counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully cause financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property.
They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
