Political parties raise alarm over alleged V8 gift to judge in Adu-Boahene case

The group says the allegation, although unverified, is serious enough to warrant an independent inquiry to establish whether any vehicle or other benefit was offered to, provided to or accepted by the presiding judge in connection with the proceedings.

According to the PWREP, the allegations raised questions about judicial independence, institutional propriety and public confidence in the administration of justice, and called for transparent clarification.

The group stressed that it was not presenting the allegation as an established fact, but argued that its seriousness required prompt clarification.

Speaking at a press conference, the PWREP stated, “As parties without representation in Parliament about public confidence in the administration of justice. We are equally concerned by the allegations being circulated that the presiding judge has been given a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser V8”. 

“We stress that this is an allegation which has not been independently verified and we do not present it as an established fact. Given the seriousness of such an allegation and the sensitivity of the proceedings, it must not be treated as proof of wrongdoing without credible evidence”. 

“Nevertheless, any allegation of a gift or benefit being provided to a judicial officer in connection with the matter before the court is grave and warrants prompt independent and transparent clarification”. 

PWREP further called on the appropriate judicial oversight authorities to investigate whether the alleged vehicle or any other benefit was offered, provided, accepted or otherwise connected to the case.

It also urged the authorities to make the findings of any inquiry public, insisting that if the allegation is false, that should be clearly established, while any credible evidence of impropriety must be dealt with in accordance with the law.

They added, “We therefore call on the appropriate judicial oversight authorities to establish whether any such vehicle of benefit was offered, provided, accepted, or otherwise connected to the proceedings and to make the outcome of any inquiry known to the public.  If the allegation is false, that should be clearly established.

If there is credible evidence of impropriety, it must be dealt with in accordance with the law. The integrity and independence of the judiciary must be protected from both actual misconduct and unfounded accusations. Our positions. We make the following points clear”.

Meanwhile, beyond the alleged vehicle offer, the PWREP also raised concerns about the prosecution’s case, stressing that the burden of proving every essential element of the charges beyond reasonable doubt rests with the prosecution and must not shift to the accused.

They stated, “The prosecution bears the burden of providing every essential element of the charges beyond reasonable doubt. That the burden does not shift to the accused person”.

“Evidence must be assessed as a whole, including testimony and documentary material elicited by the prosecution itself. No party should selectively rely on portions of the record while ignoring material answers or contradictions”. 

It will be recalled that Adu-Boahene is facing charges including stealing and money laundering of GH¢49.1 million in state funds; the Supreme Court recently dismissed defence attempts to remove the judge over bias claims.

Meanwhile, Justice Srem-Sai, the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, has expressed confidence that justice will be served to both the accused persons and the Republic in the trial involving former Director-General of the Cyber Security Authority, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, and two others.

In related news, an Accra High Court some days ago threw out an application filed by lawyers for Kwabena Adu-Boahene, seeking to strike out portions of the prosecution’s reply.

According to court details, the court dismissed the application, stating that it was not its duty to investigate whether the prosecution had relied on non-existent evidence or wrongly attributed statements to witnesses.

Political parties without parliamentary representation have demanded an independent and transparent probe into allegations that a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 was offered to the judge presiding over Adu-Boahene’s case. #UTVGhana https://t.co/rvup9chxdF