Judicial Council sacks three magistrates for misbehaviour

The Judicial Council has removed from office three magistrates who were implicated in the recent bribery scandal that plagued the Judiciary.

The council has also sacked one registrar of the High Court, three registrars of the circuit and district courts as well as a messenger.

The sacking of the three magistrates, on the grounds of stated misbehaviour under article 151(1) of the 1992 Constitution, followed a resolution at an emergency meeting of the Council on December 7, 2015.

They are Mr Kaakyire Atta Owusu, Mr Isaac Amoah and Mr Stephen Azuure.

Mr Kofi Kyere, the High Court registrar who was among the staff cited in the Tiger Eye PI, has been dismissed without benefits by the council for similar misbehaviour.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Judicial Secretary, Mr Justice Alex B. Poku-Acheampong, in Accra.

Omission

The statement said the names of the three magistrates were said to have been left out when the council announced its unanimous decision last week to remove from office 20 out of 21 Circuit Court judges and district magistrates investigated by the Disciplinary Committee for their involvement in the allegations of bribery by Tiger Eye PI.

It said the disciplinary action had also been taken against four junior staff, who were not judicial officers and were not cited in the petition.

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They are Peace Abuadzi, a circuit court registrar; Mr Daniel Dzata, district court registrar; Mr Elias Nkansah, assistant registrar and Mr Eric Ayensu, a messenger.

“They were investigated by a committee set up by the Judicial Secretary in accordance with the Judicial Service Regulation, 1963 (L. I. 319).

“They have subsequently been dismissed pursuant to section 17 of the Judicial Service Act, 1960 (C.A. 10).

“The decision to dismiss Peace Abuadzi and Daniel Dzata have been confirmed by the Chief Justice in accordance with Regulation 27(2) of the Judicial Service Regulations, 1963 (L. I. 319).

Escapee

The statement further said the Disciplinary Committee did not establish any act of misconduct against Benjamin Agyepong, a driver of the service who was also cited in the petition.

“His interdiction has been lifted with immediate effect,” the statement said.