The High Court Judge, who sentenced the MP for Keta, Mr. Dan Abodakpi to 10 years in jail, has admitted suspending his judgement to meet a fellow judge who has been accused of influencing his decision.
Justice Stephen Farkye, the trial judge, however, says meeting his colleague judge did not influence his decision.
The other judge, Justice Henrietta Abban who is also a High Court Judge is being accused of calling Justice Farkye in the middle of his judgement and directing him to give the Keta MP a harsher sentence.
Justice Farkye however says the meeting did not affect his judgement.
The Court of Appeal Monday, December 3, 2007 heard arguments on a motion filed by lawyers of Dan Abodakpi seeking to submit fresh evidence, which they hope, will influence his appeal and a review of the judgment.
Tony Lithur, Counsel for Mr. Abodakpi said in court that he has fresh evidence to show that Justice Farkye initially was going to sentence his client to four years in jail, but after he was called outside the court in the middle of the judgement by Justice Abban, she told him to slap a harsher sentence on his client.
Tony Lithur was asking the Court of Appeal to allow him to submit fresh evidence in court, which he believes would lead to a review of the case and earn his client a lesser sentence.
Justice Farkye in an affidavit, admitted that he left the court room in the middle of his judgement to meet Justice Abban. But he said he went out for less than two minutes to collect copies of an Act he intended to quote in delivering his judgement from her.
He therefore, asked the court to dismiss Tony Lithur’s application to admit fresh evidence.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Gertrude Aikins has objected to the application, arguing that the fresh evidence being tended in court is not relevant to the substantive case as it is being submitted after the trial had ended.
The panel hearing the case is made up of Justices Kanyoke, Kusi Appiah and Yaw Appau. They have set Wednesday, December 5, 2007 for ruling.
In a related development panel members hearing the case Monday reprimanded the media for what they called its contribution to the sunken image of the judiciary.
The journalists covering the proceedings were asked to stand up and identify themselves as panel members expressed reservation about past media coverage of the case.
The action was triggered by an objection raised by lawyers of Justice Henrietta Abban to a publication in the Enquirer Newspaper which they claimed was in contempt of court. They demanded that the court compel the newspaper to apologise and retract the story.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
‘My liquid Brazilian butt-lift went well but I regret it now I know the risks’
3 mins -
UNGA: Akufo-Addo, world leaders attend UBA America@40 cocktail event
1 hour -
Government to pilot solar-powered outboard motors at Elmina in October
1 hour -
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs facing more allegations of sexual assault
1 hour -
Prof Bokpin: Ghana Gold Coin won’t solve Cedi depreciation
1 hour -
Mahama vows to prosecute persons who will cause financial loss in new $800m gas processing contract
1 hour -
Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang reaffirms commitment to empowering market women economically
2 hours -
President of National House of Chiefs denies allegations of supporting galamsey
2 hours -
NAPO’s nomination no guarantee how Manhyia Palace will vote – Otumfuo
2 hours -
‘When Abrantie BoG came, the cedi is now trading at GHȼ16 to a dollar’ – Mahama teases Bawumia
2 hours -
Al Fayed’s son ‘horrified’ by sexual abuse allegations
2 hours -
Agyapa Mercer unveils Ghana’s first Creative Arts Hall of Fame in Sekondi
2 hours -
Bright Simons: Bank of Ghana sweats to impress the IMF about cedi’s woes
2 hours -
Mahama accuses Sanitation Ministry of squandering $43m World Bank grant, $150m GARID funds
2 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Samartex return from Africa with sight on Vision FC
3 hours