Indicted judges were motivated by greed - Rawlings

Former President Jerry Rawlings has waded into the ongoing discussion regarding the corruption expose’ in Ghana’s judiciary by ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, saying the indicted judges were motivated by greed just as some politicians.

In a statement Thursday, the former military leader urged the relevant state institutions to take appropriate measures to comprehensively investigate the issue in order to bring an acceptable finality to it.

“I feel genuinely sad about it. I guess it shows some are just as vulnerable as most others. Times are really hard and there is no doubt some would have done it out of greed like some of our politicians, businessmen and so called men of God. And others to profit from politics by releasing armed robbers and other criminals back onto our streets.

“It is important, however, that the relevant institutions and authorities take the necessary steps to investigate fully these revelations and deal appropriately with the guilty culprits.

“The media and members of the general public should exercise a lot of circumspection and restraint so we do not end up bringing the reputation of many members of the judiciary - who have their integrity intact - into disrepute,” the statement noted.

Thirty-four judges have been indicted after being caught on video allegedly taking bribes to throw away cases.

Twenty-two of them mainly lower court judges are on suspension and are being probed.