By Beatrice Oppon
The Accra High Court has issued an arrest warrant for Businessman, Richard Jakpa, who has been charged together with the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Mr Jakpa and Dr Ato Forson are standing trial for allegedly causing financial loss to the state to the tune of 2.37 million euros over the purchase of some ambulances for the country between 2014 and 2016.
The state claims that the said ambulances were defective and not fit for purpose.
Mr. Jakpa opened his defence last Tuesday, March 19, 2024, and was expected to continue on March 21, 2024, but failed to show up in Court on alleged health grounds.
During the Court’s sitting, the trial Judge Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, announced a WhatsApp document purported to be a medical excuse from a private hospital indicating that the accused person was unwell and could not be present in Court.
While the Court was concerned about the health of Mr Jakpa, it also expressed reservations about the document, which in its opinion, did not qualify as a medical certificate.
According to Justice Asare-Botwe, the document, which was sent via WhatsApp, did not disclose any condition suffered by the accused person and also did not include a doctor’s signature.
The Court ruling on the matter said it had to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Jakpa because, currently, he has no legal representation and there was no way of getting instructions to him.
Last Tuesday, before mounting the witness box, Mr. Jakpa informed the Court that he had relieved his lawyer, Thomas Aubynn, of his services and proceeded to open his defence.
Before adjourning the case on that day, Justice Asare-Botwe ordered the accused to ensure that his new lawyer was fully informed of the proceedings ahead of today’s hearing and also be present. However, neither the accused nor a legal representative were present in court, forcing the Court to issue a warrant for his arrest pending an explanation from him on the next adjourned date.
The case has been adjourned to Tuesday March, 26, 2024.
