The 22 judges and magistrates implicated in bribery scandal are appearing before Judicial Council one after the other to watch video footage in which they were captured receiving bribes.
They are expected to confirm or deny the identity of the judge in the video and also confirm or deny if they received bribes.
“They are not looking happy” Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey reports as the Judicial Council probes allegations of bribery against some 22 circuit court judges and magistrates.
Some of the anxious-looking judges were seen with their lawyers waiting for their turn to see the video. The Chief Justice arrived at her office after 10am to join proceedings.
The Judicial Council will take its decision of each judge depending on the responses they give at the hearing.
It is unclear whether their demand for the investigator and award-winning journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to be present for cross examination will be met.
The process of investigating the circuit court judges and magistrates cited is different from the 12 High Court judges who are also under investigations.
The scandal which broke last Wednesday has gripped media headlines all over the country. It has been greeted with shock that a High Court judge Justice Julor can allegedly fall for 2,000 dollars, some tubers of yam, goats and snails – and a massage from the niece of an accused.
Justice Julor insisted in to video that he delivers judgments not justice as he agreed terms with a cousin of the suspected armed robber.
It is alleged that another judge, Justice Charles Quist took 10,000 cedis to hurriedly dismiss a case against another suspect. More than 34 judges were captured on camera.
Despite the national heart-breaking revelations, the video also shows judges who refused to be compromised and threatened to jail the undercover investigation team, Tiger Eye.
A private legal practitioner Samson Lardy Anyenini says damming video exposing corruption in the judiciary is not all doom and gloom because there were judges who strongly refused to be bribed and therefore ought to be celebrated.
Source: myjoyonline.com
