Committee hearing: I was subjected to mental torture, degrading treatment, searches on my body Suspended CJ alleges abuse
The suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo has said her rights are being abused by members of the committee probing the three petitions for her removal.
In a supplementary affidavit to her case dated May 26, she indicated that she was subjected to mental torture.
According to her, her husband and children were denied access to the hearing room, searches on her body, denial of access to telephone and other degrading treatment in violation of her fundamental rights.
”Mrs Torkornoo stated, “That I respectfully seek leave of this Honourable Court to bring to the Court's attention various developments since the filing of the present application which evidence a complete desecration of my basic constitutional rights to a fair trial, violation of my dignity and subjection to inhuman and degrading treatment, of a kind not meted out to even accused persons on trial for treason and other offences against the State."
She added, “other developments like the denial of access into the hearing room for my husband and children, searches on my body, denial of access to telephones and laptops for myself and my lawyers (even though counsel for petitioners have access to their phones and laptops) and the conduct of the hearing itself in a high security zone at the premises of the Castle, Osu show a deliberate effort to subject me to mental torture and degrading treatment in violation of my fundamental rights.”
Mrs Torkornoo stressed, “That all article 146 proceedings with the exception of the one I am being subjected to, had hitherto, been held in a judicial facility, specifically, the Courts Complex. The location of proceedings affecting me to a cordoned high security facility boggles the mind."