Richard Jakpa, the third accused in the ongoing ambulance procurement trial, has accused Attorney-General Godfred Dame of tampering with WhatsApp messages submitted as evidence.
This assertion, made during court proceedings on Thursday, June 20, has stirred controversy and raised questions about the integrity of the evidence presented.
During cross-examination led by Director of Public Prosecutions Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Jakpa alleged that the WhatsApp messages submitted by the Attorney-General were altered.
He claimed that the content of the messages was distorted to misrepresent his communications, thus compromising the truth of his interactions with the AG.
Jakpa’s accusation adds a new layer of complexity to the trial, necessitating the court’s consideration of the validity of the evidence. Earlier, the High Court in Accra had admitted into evidence 68 WhatsApp messages sent by Jakpa.
Trial judge Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe noted that the court had previously accepted WhatsApp chats from the third accused, thus it could not reject what the prosecution described as the complete conversation.
However, she emphasised that the court reserves the right to determine the weight and credibility of the evidence presented.
Jakpa’s claim of evidence tampering has intensified scrutiny on the prosecution’s case and highlighted the importance of ensuring the integrity of digital evidence in legal proceedings. The trial continues to unfold, with this latest development potentially influencing the court’s deliberations and the overall direction of the case.