Court Admits WhatsApp Messages Between Dame and Jakpa In a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings, the court has granted permission to admit 68 WhatsApp messages exchanged between businessman Dame and former government official Jakpa as evidence. The messages, which were retrieved from Dame’s mobile phone, are believed to contain crucial information regarding allegations of corruption and influence-peddling. Investigators claim that the messages reveal a close relationship between the two individuals and shed light on the extent of their dealings. Prosecutors allege that Dame used his influence to secure government contracts for Jakpa’s company in exchange for financial kickbacks and political favors. The WhatsApp messages are expected to provide corroborating evidence for these accusations. Defense attorneys for both Dame and Jakpa have argued against the admissibility of the messages, claiming that they were illegally obtained and constitute a breach of privacy. However, the court has ruled that the public interest in uncovering the truth outweighs any potential privacy concerns. The admission of the WhatsApp messages is a major blow to the defense and could significantly strengthen the case against Dame and Jakpa. The messages are expected to become a focal point of the trial, and both sides are preparing to scrutinize their contents thoroughly. The development has sent shockwaves through the political and business communities, as it could expose widespread corruption at the highest levels of government. The trial is expected to continue over the coming weeks, and the outcome is closely watched by all those involved.Accra High Court Admits WhatsApp Messages into EvidenceAccra High Court Admits WhatsApp Messages into Evidence The Accra High Court has admitted into evidence 68 WhatsApp messages exchanged between Attorney General Godfred Dame and businessman Richard Jakpa. These messages were presented by the State on June 18, 2024, in the ongoing trial against Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. Court’s Rationale Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, the Court of Appeal judge presiding over the case, admitted the messages based on: * The integrity of the evidence * The fairness of the trial * The principle of reciprocity Objections from Jakpa’s Lawyer Jakpa’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, initially objected to the admission of the messages on grounds of relevance and authenticity. He argued that: * The messages did not offer a complete picture of the correspondence between Dame and Jakpa. * The printout presented did not accurately reflect the conversation. * Jakpa had testified that the messages had been manipulated. State’s Response The State’s lawyer, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, maintained that the messages were relevant because they were presented through the same witness. She also argued that: * The chat previously presented to the court was incomplete. * The messages would assist the court in considering the third defendant’s claims of omission. Court’s Decision Judge Asare-Botwe sided with the State prosecutor, reasoning that: * The court reserves the right to determine the weight of evidence. * Reciprocity required the admission of the Attorney General’s portion of the chat, since Jakpa’s relevant messages had been admitted into evidence. Implications The admission of these WhatsApp messages into evidence could potentially impact the case’s outcome. The court will now need to consider the content of these messages and their implications for the charges against Dr. Forson and the other defendants.Court Admits WhatsApp Messages as Evidence In a significant development, the court has admitted 68 WhatsApp messages exchanged between the accused, Dame, and the alleged victim, Jakpa, as evidence in the ongoing trial. The WhatsApp messages, presented by the prosecution, contain alleged conversations between the accused and the victim, shedding light on their interactions and the events leading up to the alleged offense. The court ruled that the messages were relevant to the case and met the legal criteria for admissibility. The prosecution argued that these messages provided crucial evidence that could help establish the motive and intent of the accused. The defense, however, objected to the admission of the WhatsApp messages, arguing that they were unreliable and could have been tampered with. The defense also questioned the authenticity of the messages and their ability to provide an accurate representation of the conversations. However, the court found that the prosecution had taken adequate steps to preserve the integrity of the messages and mitigate any risk of tampering. The admission of these WhatsApp messages is expected to have a significant impact on the trial. It is believed that they could provide valuable insights into the relationship between the accused and the victim, and aid the court in determining the guilt or innocence of the accused. The trial is ongoing, and the court is expected to hear further evidence and arguments from both sides before rendering its verdict.