The Judicial Council has suspended 22 circuit court judges and
magistrates effective 10 September 2015 following the latest corruption expose
by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
In a statement signed by Justice Opoku Acheampong, the Judicial Council
has also put 12 High Court judges under investigation.
The statement was released Wednesday after a crucial meeting of
the council to consider measure against the judges named in a petition
presented by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
“A Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council was constituted
to investigate the petition against the 22 judges and magistrates. It is a
five-member Committee chaired by a justice of the Supreme Court.
“On September 7, 2015 the circuit judges and magistrates were
served with letters stating the allegations against them and asked to submit
their responses by September 9 2015.
“The judicial Council further decided that upon receipt of the
responses, the 22 judges and magistrates have accordingly been suspended with
effect from Thursday September 10, 2015,” the statement said.
Anas had earlier sent two petitions, one dated 31 August and
addressed to the president. The other on September 2 to the Chief Justice.
The award-winning investigative journalist in accordance with
Article 146 asked the president to initiate impeachment proceedings against the
High Court judges he says took bribes to pervert justice.
The Chief Justice has instituted a five-member disciplinary
committee head by a Supreme Court judge.
The Committee will also look out for other court officials and
clerks who may have collaborated in the bribery scandal are also
Her Ladyship the Chief Justice has also written to the 22 lower
court judges with a deadline to respond to allegations by September 9.
Until a final determination on the case is made, the 22 judges
remain suspended, a statement read.
A total of 34 judges may face impeachment as the video expected to
be aired on September 22, entangles the judges in the damning corruption
scandal.
One of the the high profile judges includes, Justice John
Ajet-Nassam, a High Court Judge, who freed Alfred Agbesi Woyome in the
controversial Gh¢51 million judgment debt scandal was videotaped and audio
recorded in separate conversations with suspects or persons acting as agents of
suspects before him to compromise big cases.
Other judges are Human Rights Court judge Kofi Essel Mensah and
Charles Quist; a High Court Judge.
Source: Pulse.com.gh
