CJ gives May ultimatum to attorneys to prosecute remand cases
- peterkyei
- Mar 18, 2015
- 1 min read
The Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood has given a May ultimatum to all state attorneys to conclude the prosecution of cases on remand or she will have judges free such suspects.
This is one of the many directives she has issued following JoyNews’ documentary “Locked and Forgotten”.
The Chief Justice today summoned the Attorney General, the Director General of the Criminal Investigative Department and all state attorneys to her office to watch the documentary which exposed the inhumane conditions under which especially remand prisoners live.
Mrs. Georgina Wood has directed that copies of the documentary be made available to all prosecutors in the country.
Chairman of the Justice for All Program Justice Clemence Honyenuga who was part of the meeting told Joy News Seth Kwame boateng the meeting was highly successful.
"After discussions about ways to decongest the prisons, the documentary was shown to all of them and there were comments from one or two of them," Justice Honyenuga narrated.
He added April to May has been dedicated to doing only criminal cases involving remand prisoners and that from 1st May all cases which involve trial by indictment-cases tried by state attorneys not the police at the high court- must be exhausted.
He said if the state attorneys are unable to prosecute the case within the deadline, the judges can take a decision either to discharge the suspects unconditionally or make orders to acquit and discharge them.
He said the Attorney General promised the Chief Justice she will do her part to decongest the prisons.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
