Ambulance trial: Court to rule on admission of Jakpa-A-G tape into evidence on June 13

The High Court hearing the matter involving a financial loss of 2.37 million euros to the state on the purchase of defective ambulances has set Thursday, June 13 to determine an application by lawyers of Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

Led by Dr Abdul Bassit Bamba, counsel for the first accused in the ambulance trial on Tuesday moved an application to admit the recording of the audio tape conversation involving Richard Jakpa and Godfred Yeboah Dame into evidence, citing relevance to their earlier application of mistrial which had been dismissed by the court.

This was after Justice Afia Serwah Asare Botwe called for the audio tape to be played in open court upon confirming that all the parties had been served and the same had been tendered in court.

She indicated that playing the recording in court was to help with the determination of the tape into evidence as well as reaffirm whether it was the same tape served on the prosecution and lawyers of Dr Ato Forson.

Upon listening to the tape, Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa objected to the tendering of the recording into evidence on grounds of relevance and breach of privacy of the Attorney-General.

She noted that the court had already relied on the tape in its ruling which dismissed all the applications filed by both Dr Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa.

“We object to the Tendering of this recording into evidence. Insufficient foundation has been laid for its inclusion into evidence in the ongoing trial. Me lady will note that by its own ruling on June 6, this court admitted into evidence this same recording that counsel seeks to tender of the 3rd accused (Dr Cassiel Ato Forson).”

More soon…