A lawyer representing one of the embattled judges implicated in the Judicial bribery scandal has pleaded with the committee investigating the matter to unmask Anas Aremeyaw Anas in chambers during cross examination.
Lawyer Gary Nimako Marfo says the integrity of the case could be affected if the judges believe they have not received the same treatment as any accused person, and is thus urging the committee to unmask the investigative journalist to ensure a smooth cross examination.
He said the presence of a witness in any case is very important and so for a witness to have his face covered even in in-camera is unlawful.
“The demeanor of a witness in any case is very critical and so if that person has his face covered, what then do we hope to achieve in a democratic nation. It will therefore be appropriate if he (Anas) is unmasked” he noted.
34 lower and high court judges have been indicted for allegedly taking bribes to influence their decicion in a video by Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
A Judicial Committee of inquiry has since been set up to establish if there is any merit in the petition submitted to the President and Chief Justice by the investigative journalist.
Seven High Court judges have since been suspended, while 22 lower court judges are being investigated. Two other judges, Peter Dery and Mustapha Logoh, are challenging the legality of the Committee set up by the Judicial Council.
The Police Criminal Investigations Department has also began investigations into the matter and already invited a number of judges to write their statements at the CID headquarters.
But lawyer Nimako Marfo on an Accra based radio station said “We are not fighting Anas Aremeyaw Anas as it has been reported. We only want him to be unmasked since the case is not being heard by the whole public but in-camera."
He continued: “Throughout my years practicing law, I have never experienced any witness making his case hooded so let’s just wait and see what happens at the committee”.
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