Tsatsu cries foul, alleges 7 new boxes added to original pink sheet exhibits

Counsel for National Democratic Congress(NDC), Tsatsu Tsikata has this morning complained to the Supreme Court of seven boxes which he claimed have been added to the “original” number of boxes counted by KPMG per orders of Justice Atuguba.

On May 9th 2013, Justice Atuguba ordered a physical count of the pink sheets after controversy arose about the true number of the sheets as received by Tsatsu Tsikata.

But yesterday NDC insisted that the counting by KPMG be suspended on fears that the process had been compromised.

“It is serious...it's a matter of criminality”, the lawyer complained. He said under the circumstances, a “true and faithful count” was not possible and has asked the court to activate “control mechanisms”.

He narrated his version of the suspected malpractice to the court. He said his team became “aware of significant developments” yesterday. They had found 7 boxes that appeared to be duplicates of other boxes.

He revealed that the referee without any of the parties went to check the documents in the registry and confirmed that three boxes which had been duplicated. He cited the P-category of exhibits as having been duplicated.

He said as at last Thursday when preparations were done for the count to begin this week, 24 boxes were confirmed by their representatives.

Along with other respondents, they sought yesterday to have an audience with the court, but he said the petitioners “declined” the invitation.

He has therefore asked the court to widen the count to include the copies of exhibits distributed to “at least two other Lordships”.

But lawyer for petitioners, Philip Addison has dismissed Tsikata's claims.

Addison described the claim as a “sinister” plot to deny the petitioners of the validity of their case.

The Court has had to go on a short recess to consider the issue.