Ambulance case: Court of Appeal acquits and discharges Ato Forson, Jakpa

The Court of Appeal has acquitted and discharged the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and Richard Jakpa, the 3rd accused in the ongoing ambulance case.

This decision overturned the previous order from the trial court, which required Dr. Ato Forson and Jakpa to open their defence.

They had been charged with allegedly causing financial loss of €2.37 million to the State in a deal to procure ambulances for the Government of Ghana.

The Court of Appeal’s ruling sets aside the trial court’s directive, delivered by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, which had dismissed Ato Forson’s submission of no case and ordered him to open his defence.

Dr. Ato Forson had argued that there was no case for him to answer, but this submission was initially rejected by the trial judge. Jakpa had similarly filed a similar submission of no case, and has since called a number of witnesses in his defence.

The Court of Appeal’s decision now upholds Dr Ato Forson’s submission.

As a result, Dr. Ato Forson is no longer required to open his defence in the ongoing trial, marking a significant development in the case.

Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa, who is a representative for Big Sea, have been accused of causing a financial loss of €2.37 million to the State in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.

The trial at the High Court resumes Tuesday afternoon, where the court would be served with the decision of the Court of Appeal.

The Attorney General is also expected to indicate whether or not it intends to appeal the ruling by the Court of Appeal.

Source: myjoyonline