The Association of State Attorneys has dissociated itself from calls by its National Secretary, Charles Ofori, that judges caught on tape taking bribes be prosecuted.
President if the Association Francisca Tete-Mensah says members – more than 150 spread across the country – are not in favour of the stance taken by Mr Ofori.
“Charles has not been given any mandate to be our mouthpiece and to speak on behalf of the Association. Charles should not be called to say anything for the association,” Tete-Mensah told Joy News.
Charles Ofori had told Joy FM Wednesday that the judges caught in the latest bribery scandal should be prosecuted. He also rejected calls by some members of the judicial council to internally handle the case of 34 judges secretly filmed taking bribes.
“Personally the conducts, the judges allegedly committed, for me are criminal offences,” he told Evans Joy FM Wednesday
However, President of the Association says Mr Ofori has jumped the gun. “We don’t intend to issue any statement on the matter, and even the Judiciary are now investigating”, she said.
According to her the decision to prosecute the judges cited in the exposé is vested solely in the Attorney-General. Mrs. Tete-Mensah says by Ghana’s laws those accused judges are innocent until proven guilty. The association is expected to meet Thursday but Francisca Tete-Mensah says the judges scandal is not part of its agenda.
The exposé is the latest investigative piece by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas span over two years.
Twenty-two circuit court judges and magistrates caught in the web of bribery have been suspended.
Twelve high court judges who were caught on video tape taking bribes are also under investigations as prescribed by the 1992 Constitution. They have been given 24 hours to respond to the allegations.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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