It's not my voice -'Bribery' judge

The Offinso Circuit Court judge, Justice J.B Tandoh who is currently engulfed in an alleged bribery scandal has denied that the voice captured on tape by the undercover journalist from Accra- based Hot FM is his voice.

A highly placed source close to the Criminal Investigation Department said that Justice Tandoh has however admitted meeting the man reported to have handed him the 20 million cedis, Mr Atobrah, and others, but denied ever talking about bribe and as well received any amount of money from them as is being alleged.

He and his wife who were arrested last Thursday following the allegation have however been granted police enquiry bail, and are expected to report back to the CID at the Police Headquarters on Monday August 28, 2006.

Information gathered at the CID Headquarters indicate that Justice Tandoh and his wife are likely to face High Court in Kumasi over criminal charges of attempting to receive bribe and receiving bribe contrary to the stipulations of the Criminal Code of Ghana.

The information also indicated that his accusers, those who allegedly gave him the bribe money have also written their statements at the CID Headquarters to confirm their accusation.

The Hot FM reporter who captured the judge and the discussion in his Offinso residence on tape has also written a statement to the police to also confirm that he indeed witnessed the deal which was consummated in his presence.

Meanwhile the Hot FM reporter who witnessed the bargaining over the bribe money, has challenged Justice Tandoh that it is his voice which he captured on tape and dared him to move at every length to prove his claim as false.

“I am prepared to accompany whoever will be mandated to take the tape to voice experts, even if it is overseas,” he said, and added, “Justice Tandoh, I believe is dazed what has happened which is making him make such fruitless efforts to extricate himself”.

It will be recalled that in the Monday issue of the Independent newspaper edition of August 21, 2006 edition published a story under the banner headline, “Judge caught in bribery scandal”, in which it was alleged that Justice Tandoh had received bribe money of 20 million cedis to grant bail to 16 rioters in the Akomadan chieftaincy dispute.