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| Gov''t had no hand in Abodakpi''s trial |
2/9/2007 |
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The Deputy Attorney General, Kwame Osei Prempeh has dismissed claims by the opposition NDC that government had a hand in the trial and sentencing of the MP for Keta, Dan Abodakpi.
Mr. Abodakpi was sentenced to ten years in prison on Monday, after he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit crime, defrauding by false pretences and willfully causing a total loss of ¢2.73 billion to the State.
His party has imputed political motives for his incarceration however Mr. Osei-Prempeh, who is also a deputy Minister of Justice says the judiciary operated independent of the government.
Whiles expressing surprise at the maximum sentence handed the MP, Osei Prempeh said the convict stood a good chance at an appeal if the NDC’s argument about judicial errors were accurate.
He was reacting to comments made by the NDC MP for Ave Avenor and Deputy Minority Leader, Edward Doe Adjaho on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show.
Doe Adjaho had provided arguments to support his party’s claim that the MP for Keta was not guilty of the charge.
He attacked the judge and the prosecutor saying they were motivated by other considerations in deciding the case.
He said the judge totally disregarded arguments of the defence in his summation prior to pronouncing judgement, and even ignored counsel for Abodakpi when he attempted to plead for leniency because, according to him, the judge said he had not exceeded the maximum sentence.
He said the judge rather proceeded to sum up the prosecution’s case, and even when the prosecution had admitted a downward review of the exact amount Abodakpi was alleged to have embezzled, the judge sentenced him on the original figure.
Doe Adjaho, to support the party’s claims that the trial was politically motivated, also maintained that contrary to the accepted practice of the Auditor General directing investigations into the alleged impropriety against Abodakpi, his prosecution was rather directed from the seat of government.
Meanwhile members of the Majority in Parliament have described Mr. Abodakpi’s incarceration as unfortunate.
The NPP MP’s said although the plight of the Keta MP was regrettable, the law needed to prevail.
Source:
jfm
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