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Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo, a former Chief Justice (CJ), has advised politicians to exercise caution while making statements on legal issues.
She contends that while the legal system is impartial, it is vital to exercise caution when handling legal situations involving public officials.
The retired Supreme Court judge stated in an exclusive interview with Kasapa News’ Akokoraba Nyarko that cases involving politicians in court should be handled based on substantive law and judicial processes rather than opinions.
“if something is going on and they (politicians) are attacking it, they should be attacked on procedural or substantive law basis rather than impressions.
This according to her is, “because the judicial process is not a political one,” which has “become too predictable in this country.”
According to Justice Sophia Akuffo, politicians ought to use greater caution in their speech and base their discussions on the law, regulations, and established procedures.
She acknowledged that she does not focus much on her retirement, but said, “I may be saying in private in my room that you don’t know what you’re talking about, it doesn’t work like that.”
According to Madam Sophia, the prosecution can seek to plea bargain witin every criminal case unless there’s a law setting boundaries as to what cannot be plea bargained.
Justice Sophia Akuffo’s comments come in the wake of Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame coming under intense scrutiny following allegations by businessman Richard Jakpa that the AG has been engaging him at odd hours to implicate Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in the ongoing trial involving the purchase of ambulances said to be defective.
“The prosecution can seek to plea bargain in every criminal case unless there is a law setting boundaries as to what cannot be plea bargained,” the retired Chief Justice stated.
“Sometimes in countries where they have been practicing plea bargain for a very long time, even in murder cases, they can plea bargain it downwards to something else,” Justice Sophia Akuffo said.
While pointing out that, she is not in the known of the scope of the Plea Bargaining in the ongoing ambulance case, she said it is not novel for a co-defendant to be plea bargain and used as a Prosecution Witness.
“I don’t know the scope and content of whatever discussions has been going on.
“But sometimes there is, you plea bargain a co-defendant and make that co-defendant your prosecution witness in exchange for which you then plead guilty to a lesser charge,” she explained
The Supreme Court’s retired Justice’s statement follows the controversy surrounding the current trial of businessman Richard Jakpa and Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
