Ambulance trial : Appeal Court ruling came to me as a big surprise – Edudzi Tamakloe

Lawyer for Dr Cassiel Ato Forson in the ambulance procurement trial, Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe has said the Court of Appeal’s ruling came to him as a big surprise.

According him, although, he and his team were confident of the quality of work they have put in their defence, anything could happen in the court of law, hence, his seeming surprise about the ruling.

Edudzi Tamakloe made the comment on TV3 NewDay on Tuesday, July 30, monitored by GhanaPlus.com hours after the ruling.

“The calmness is as a result of a huge surprise. I don’t know, I don’t know but it came to me as a big surprise. Look I have no idea. I am so grateful for what has happen,”  he said.

“As for the work, we have done, we are absolutely sure but nobody knows and today this is the outcome, so we are exceedingly grateful to God,” Edudzi Tamakloe added.

Appeal court acquit, discharge Ato Forson

The Court of Appeal on Tuesday, acquitted and discharged the  Minority Leader of Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson who was standing trial for allegedly causing financial loss of a whopping €2.37 million to the state in the purchase of some 200 ambulance between 2014 and 2016 when he was the Deputy Minister of Finance.

The MP was facing charges of willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to willfully causing financial loss to the state, contravention of the public Procurement Act and intentionally misapplying public property at the High Court.

Dr Ato Forson pleaded not guilty to all charges and subsequently made a submission of no case but was dismissed by the court.

But ruling on an appeal on the submission of no case dismissed earlier by the High Court on the matter, the Court of Appeal in a 2-1 majority decision held that the prosecution handling the case did not establish a prima facie case for Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to answer.

According to the court, the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence. The trial judge erred in calling on Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to open his defence. No positively proven facts. Evidence based on Impermissible speculations. There is no link between the evidence heard and what happened for the third accused to be called to open defence.”

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson is therefore acquitted and discharged.

Trial outcome: Fidelity to the law- Edudzi Tamakloe

Edudzi Tamakloe described the outcome of the trial as fidelity to the law adding that his client had through out the trial maintained his innocence.

“……….he has always maintain his innocence and the vindication came today.We have always have in mind that there is no basis whatsoever for this trial and today with the support of the almighty God our position have been vindicated . We are extremely pleased with grateful to God and the court, ” he said.

Source: GhanaPlus.com