DPP Studying Bribery Allegation

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Osafo Sampong, has confirmed in an interview yesterday that he had received the report of the police investigations into the alleged bribery case involving Mr Justice Anthony Abada, a High Court judge.

He, however, said he was yet to look into it and advise appropriately. It followed Graphic inquiries as to why more than three weeks after investigations were initiated into bribery allegations against Mr Justice Abada, no official statement had been issued on the matter, giving room for speculations and various interpretations.

Mr Sampong said the report was being handled like any other case and it would be attended to at the appropriate time. He, therefore, expressed surprise at a publication in sections of the media that the judge had been exonerated.

He said since he had not looked into the report, he would not be drawn into further comments on it, especially as to whether the judge had been exonerated or not.

Sources close to the police said they were awaiting the advice of the Attorney-General's Department before deciding on the next line of action.

The sources denied ever giving a report on the issue and explained that soon after they completed their investigations, the report was forwarded to the Attorney-General's office for advice.

The Graphic, published in its March 1, 2004 edition that Mr Justice Abada, was on February 27, 2004, invited to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to assist in investigations into allegations of bribery levelled against him.

Mr Justice Abada's invitation followed the arrest of an alleged middleman, Jarfro Mensah Larkai in the evening of Thursday, February 26, 2004.