Clerk Gyata\u2019s String Pulling With Justice Quist Over Bribe<\/strong><\/p>\nA few days later, having raised GHc 5,000.00, we decided to schedule a meeting with Gyata to formally present the first tranche of the money to the judge. His eager response was an indicator of the possible success of our mission. \nWe met Gyata at a spot away from the court where we handed him the GHc 5,000.00 part payment meant for the Judge. The intention was to settle Gyata\u2019s later but on receiving the envelope, he made it clear to us that he would take a cut of GHc 1,000.00 out of the amount. There, he took the GHc 1,000.00 of the amount meant for the Judge. \nNot long after, as planned, Justice Quist\u2019s car approached. On seeing his master arriving, Gyata quickly slipped his GHc 1,000.00 into his pocket, saying \u2018 The man is almost here. Let me pocket mine so when he comes we\u2019ll go to him in the car, then see him, (and) talk to him because I don\u2019t know what he will be doing.\u2019 \nTiger: I understand, I understand.<\/p>\n
Gyata: So what\u2019ll you do if (let\u2019s say) he hands over or whatever, will you take him out? \nTiger: Ah he? Oh he has to be out of Accra or something but\u2026<\/p>\n
Gyata: Because, the way these cases are rampant these days; armed robbery cases, it\u2019s becoming too much. It means yourself sitting here, if they (armed robbers) get you, they will rob you too. \nTiger: Yeah, I understand. Is it computer?<\/p>\n
Gyata: mmmm. Yeah there are some issues; we can talk about it before he (the judge) comes. \nTiger: Yeah cool, concerning the money, concerning the money.<\/p>\n
Gyata: What\u2019ve you gotten? \nTiger: When I was coming, I shipped some cars but I told someone to transfer some money for me, but still the money is not in but now the cars are in and as I\u2019m here (so) I have to clear the cars before \u2026, so as I am here, it\u2019s GHc 10,000 I have on me and I don\u2019t know,<\/p>\n
Gyata: Hmmm. Okay if \u2026fully ready \nTiger: I\u2019ve thought about this thing very well, me I wanted to make a commitment that yes I\u2019m in \u2026<\/p>\n
Gyata: Yes that\u2019s what I mean. \nTiger: So I wanted to settle him first, even though I have to see you, but as you said he has to do everything but it\u2019s through you that I\u2019ll meet him.<\/p>\n
Gyata: Yes \nTiger: So if maybe, (I don\u2019t know) I\u2019ll make the commitment of GHc 5,000 and from here I will go to the port and clear, if it\u2019s the car that I have to sell cheap, I\u2019ll sort everything out before I leave, then I\u2019ll do that.<\/p>\n
I know it\u2019s some way but yesterday, you see that I couldn\u2019t call you early, I was chasing money, chasing money but you see people want to know what you\u2019re going to use the money for and me too I can\u2019t tell you what I\u2019m going to use the money for. I told them that I have something that I\u2019ve to deal with, but as it is now (me) I am in already, anything that I have to do to take him out, that\u2019s what I want to do.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know if I have to do the commitment and give him the 5,000 cedis then. Today is Tuesday, yes from here, I\u2019ll go to Tema straight and (go and) clear and put \u2018for sale\u2019 on it. If it\u2019s quick, then I remove my hand from it, then later I\u2019ll come and see both of you again.<\/p>\n
Gyata: Okay. \nTiger: I hope he\u2019ll\u2026<\/p>\n
Gyata: Yeah but when he comes I\u2019ll go with you to talk (some) for you. \nTiger: Yes<\/p>\n
Gyata: But just as you\u2019re going to do some commitment to him, on my part too you have to do some commitment; you have to do some commitment on my part. \nTiger: Then unless I give him four and give you one because I don\u2019t want to, the GHc 5,000 that I have I don\u2019t want to get there and they\u2019ll tell me the money is not enough because it\u2019s a BMW and we know how BMW and the duties and stuff.<\/p>\n
Gyata: Ok you let\u2019s settle it when he comes. You give me two (GHc 2,000.00) then you give him three (GHc 3,000.00), you know I\u2019m going to do the talking and I\u2019ll know how I\u2019ll convince him. Tell him that you just met me with our money matter \u2026 but as you have come now, you have some cars to clear from the port but you want to do a commitment of 3,000 cedis to him, whether everything is over or not you\u2019re promising that you\u2019ll get back and get him his additional 7,000 cedis; you get what I mean? He\u2019ll understand. He\u2019s not a difficult person. \nTiger: (Me too) I understand you too but that means (it is between) the pair of you when the money gets to him, he\u2019s not going to see you at all?<\/p>\n
Gyata: No, oh no, how possible is that? \nTiger: You brought the customer?<\/p>\n
Gyata: No, these people we\u2019ve been working with them for a long time and we know how they are. When something gets into their hands (that is it,) that is it! They would not, assuming I\u2019m going to benefit from whatever they had I wouldn\u2019t have told you of the need to do whatever for me, no they\u2019ll not. Me, the only thing I like about him in particular is that when I tell him something, he respects me and does whatever he\u2019s supposed to do, that\u2019s the one thing about him. \nTiger: Is he far from here?<\/p>\n
Gyata: He says he\u2019s stuck in traffic round but he\u2019ll soon be here. \nTiger: I\u2019m even getting thirsty. Because I\u2019ve not slept \u2026, I\u2019ve not slept at all because it keeps me thinking, I\u2019ve not slept. \nGyata: Don\u2019t worry, don\u2019t worry. You as I said ehhh, do as I said when he comes. We\u2019ll get to him, myself I\u2019ll do a lot of talking, then you\u2019ll ask him that you want the half, if you can leave him entirely for now ehh maybe this is what you\u2019re going to do; as a way of commitment, you brought this and then you\u2019re rushing to the port to clear your cars.<\/p>\n
You follow what I mean?And you\u2019ll try to ensure that you get rid of those things as early as possible to come and top this for him straight. \u00a0And I\u2019ll also add my voice to it; the thing is you should understand that this whole thing, this kind of thing, it\u2019s some of us who do the actual work. Imagine convincing the person to do something\u2026<\/p>\n
Tiger: Let me give you your share of the money. \nGyata: Okay. You should have arranged this thing well.<\/p>\n
Tiger: You were not agreeing with me. (51:00 seconds Tiger gives Gyata his part of the money). You can count it if you want.<\/p>\n
Gyata: These are the 10s?<\/p>\n
Tiger: Yes. You can count it if you want. \nGyata: Okay. (He begins to count it but puts it in his pocket)<\/p>\n
Now sure that the money had arrived and he had collected his part, Gyata placed a call to Charles Quist to alert him that the booty had arrived and that we were waiting for him to come and collect.<\/p>\n
Just after speaking on phone, a black Toyota Avensis with Registration number GT 6143-11 arrives and parks at the corner of Afia Hotel near the Independence Square. Justice Quist was seated in it. Gyata rushed to the car and took the front passenger seat while I was asked to sit at the back. Justice Quist was driving himself.<\/p>\n
Tiger sat at the back seat, while Gyata introduced us. The man appeared to be of few words; he gave straightforward answers and asked pinpoint questions. He has a style for taking bribe! Read the following:<\/p>\n
Gyata: Good morning sir. \nJudge Quist: Good morning. \nGyata: My Lord, as I pleaded with you yesterday, this is the guy, he\u2019s the brother to the second accused person, he has just come down from the USA \u2026<\/p>\n
Tiger: UK \nGyata: UK, and that his brother\u2019s issue is a headache to him and he wants to see my Lord, plead with my Lord and see what my Lord can do for him and whatever he needs to do, he\u2019ll also try and do, so I told him that if only he can meet my Lord so that\u2019s why he\u2019s here this morning.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: Okay \nGyata: To do some commitment.<\/p>\n
Tiger: I didn\u2019t mean to let this thing happen but it has happened. Some people, when you talk to them, they don\u2019t want to listen. They think the world is like this high, high, but it has happened already but as it is now, only that I\u2019m just pleading with my Lord if there\u2019s something that you can do for him to come, I\u2019ll be very happy.<\/p>\n
As at now, getting money is very hard but as my uncle (Gyaata) said, I\u2019ll try the best to do what I have to do for him but when he comes and he wants to do it again, that\u2019s him, that one I\u2019ll not be in town again to go up and down and stuff. So I\u2019m pleading on his behalf. \nJudge Quist: Okay I\u2019ve heard you. \nGyata: So my Lord, he wants to know how best my Lord would help him and ehh \nJudge Quist: Well, I\u2019ll try my best and let him out.<\/p>\n
Tiger: Thank you sir. As there is a saying, you don\u2019t go to a palace empty handed or something and as my uncle said, I wanted to do some commitment with this. I don\u2019t have a poly something here. Thank you. (5:34 minutes. Tiger hands over the money to Judge Quist and Quist stretches out his hands and grabs the money). \nJudge Quist: How much is this? \nTiger: It\u2019s four.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: Pardon? \nTiger: 4,000 cedis sir. \nGyata: He says he\u2019ll \u2026<\/p>\n
Tiger: I\u2019ll come again. \nJudge Quist: When, when is the case coming on? \nGyata: My Lord I think this Friday or so.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: Friday? \nGyata: Mmhhmm.<\/p>\n
Tiger: For me I have something to clear at the port. I would have given you all the money that I have here, but I have to clear some car at the port, I have only 5,000 cedis here and you know now the port is something \u2026 soon as I clear, I\u2019m putting it on sale and I\u2019ll make sure it goes fast, then I\u2019ll come back again later and pay. \nJudge Quist: By Friday?<\/p>\n
Tiger: Yes \nJudge Quist: you sure? \nTiger: Hmmmm. I know he\u2019s in your hands now, anything you say.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: What if I release him on Friday and I don\u2019t see you again?<\/p>\n
Tiger: No, no sir, it can\u2019t be possible. \nGyata: Or my Lord you\u2019ll adjourn it to next week? \nJudge Quist: Ah okay, next week would be.<\/p>\n
Tiger: I said before Friday from here \nGyata: So before Friday<\/p>\n
Tiger: I\u2019m going to the port now. \nGyata: Today is Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Tiger: Yes \nGyata: It means maybe by Thursday?<\/p>\n
Tiger: Yes. It\u2019s a Toyota and you know how Toyota cars\u2026 some people like them fast fast so please, I\u2019m begging you.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: Oh I\u2019ll get him off, I\u2019ll get him off the hook on Friday but everything would depend on you. \nTiger: Yes sir, I understand.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: It\u2019s not a big deal. I\u2019ve read the docket and I know how to go around it, hmm? \nTiger: Yes sir. \nGyata: So the pressure is now on you so at least by Thursday (Tiger cuts in)<\/p>\n
Tiger: As I\u2019m here now, I\u2019m even shaking, I\u2019m getting sick… \nGyata: By Thursday come and then do the proper (Judge Quist cuts in) \nJudge Quist: How many years has he spent there? \nGyata: How many years has he spent there so far?<\/p>\n
Tiger: Actually I didn\u2019t (Judge Quist cuts in) \nJudge Quist: You can\u2019t tell. \nTiger: I didn\u2019t hear the case early oo. \nJudge Quist and Gyata: Hmmmm<\/p>\n
Tiger: I didn\u2019t hear the case early because I was trying to reach him and I was trying to call him; no one is willing to tell me and this one nobody knows what I\u2019m doing now. \nJudge Quist: What is he to you? \nTiger: Like a cousin but \u2026<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: He\u2019s your cousin? \nTiger: Yes \nJudge Quist: Okay it\u2019s a deal.<\/p>\n
Tiger: Thank you sir. \nJudge Quist: So you have to fulfill your side of the bargaining, okay?<\/p>\n
Tiger: Okay sir. \nJudge Quist: I\u2019ll let him off but he shouldn\u2019t try it again, if we catch him again: trouble.<\/p>\n
Tiger: Thank you sir. \nJudge Quist: Talk to him<\/p>\n
Tiger: Okay sir \nJudge Quist: When he comes back, talk to him.<\/p>\n
Tiger: Okay sir, thank you sir. \nJudge Quist: Okay.<\/p>\n
Tiger: I\u2019ll like to leave sir. \nJudge Quist: Alright. So we\u2019ll see you before Friday. \nTiger: Okay sir, thank you.<\/p>\n
Events that followed got Gyata angry over how Tiger was effecting payment, especially concerning a very sensitive case as the one that we were seeking to have fiddled with. On the next meeting date, we showed up with GHc 2,000.00<\/p>\n
As per the computations, we owed the learned judge GHc 6,000.00 and he (Gyata) a cool GHc 4000.00. We were however insisting that the GHc 2000.00 be given to the judge because he would not do our bidding if we failed him.<\/p>\n
However, no amount of assurances would satisfy a visibly disappointed Gyata; he called the judge again. As usual, the man appeared again in his black Toyota saloon car, same procedure as Tiger took back seat and Gyata sat in front with Judge Quist.<\/p>\n
It was here that we got to know, Justice Quist would not compromise on taking everything before delivering judgment. In other words, there was no crediting here. Read on:<\/p>\n
Fight Over Cash To Judge Quist, Gyata Bares Teeth<\/p>\n
Tiger: So I had to call someone to come and give me some money and the money is not even up to GHc 5,000.00, it\u2019s only GHc 2,000.00 the person brought me, so from here I\u2019ve to go home and see what I can do. It\u2019s once and for all. \nGyata: You know with these kind of things\u2026<\/p>\n
Tiger: It\u2019s once and for all. \nGyata: You don\u2019t do this kind of things in pieces or whatever, this is the point the man wants, to give the sentence tomorrow so that things will end. If we keep doing this in pieces\u2026 one thing you shouldn\u2019t forget is that some of us, we don\u2019t think about people too much, you follow my point?<\/p>\n
Tiger: Then you should have changed the location. \nGyata: No, it\u2019s not about the location, it\u2019s about you working on time, when we fix a time to meet here, then you go according to the time.<\/p>\n
Tiger: About your car too, I have contacted some guy, he said he can get it for you but the amount, you will know how to talk about the amount. \nGyata: So what are we going to do now?<\/p>\n
Tiger: I know we still have to give you your thing before we go to \u2026 \nGyata: Yes of course, you know that one, you know this kind of things, you don\u2019t do \u2026 I\u2019ve learnt certain lessons in this kind of things, that is why I\u2019m very cautious and careful this time when\u2026 (even me) I\u2019ve even stopped helping people because of this kind of tactics that they play especially after they get whatever they want and all that.<\/p>\n
His tirade veered into another case – a financial case before the court – whereas we thought that would take Gyata’s mind off track, he soon refocused the discussion.<\/p>\n
Gyata: And you say it\u2019s how much? \nTiger: Just GHc 2,000.00.<\/p>\n
Gyata: Then what will happen is that, if only you\u2019re going to bring this and tell him that by the close of the day, you\u2019ll have to come towards Tema. \nTiger: He also lives in Tema?<\/p>\n
Gyata: But you will tell him that by the afternoon or whatever, you will be ready with the rest. Then I\u2019ll tell him that okay you let me get his balance to reach him maybe tomorrow morning before he delivers the judgment, then I have to get my money\u2026<\/p>\n
Tiger: I\u2019m cool because I can\u2019t take this money anywhere, I have to go here, go here. \nGyata: Because if the cash or the balance and all those things haven\u2019t come, because this thing should be once and for all thing. So what do you want to do with this one?<\/p>\n
Tiger: When we go, then we give it to him for the mean time so that he will know that we came with something; okay? I\u2019m begging you.<\/p>\n
Gyata: Honestly, I don\u2019t do this kind of thing\u2026 so what time will you meet me? \nTiger: From here, when I get to the guy, I\u2019ll give you a call\u2026. I know you\u2019re not happy with it but you try and\u2026.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist\u2019s Quest for cash, \u201cPay Or I Will Not Deliver Judgment\u201d<\/p>\n
Gyata: He just came. \nTiger: Let me apologize for delaying. \nJudge Quist: No problem.<\/p>\n
Gyata: I told him that some of us don\u2019t wait for people too much like this, and secondly, he\u2019s saying that when he went to the bank, the person has given him a cheque to go and cash the money. When they got to the bank there, they\u2019re saying that the person himself should come so what he did was that, in order not to disappoint or whatever, he organized some Ghc 2,000 so that by the close of the day, he will \u2026 this is what he\u2019s saying. \nTiger: I understand sir, I understand.<\/p>\n
Gyata: And I told him this kind of thing, you don\u2019t do any go come, go come. He said he wants to check on the guy, he said he bought his car. \nTiger: The one that I told you I would clear from the port.<\/p>\n
Gyata: So I told him if that is the case, then in the course of the day, he should get to me, then we will see what happens before tomorrow morning. \nJudge Quist: Okay, you get the money, and bring it tomorrow. Okay? \nGyata: Tomorrow morning, yes, I told him, have you heard it? \nTiger: Yes sir, I have; this is the GHc 2,000.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: You deal with the matter once and for all. \nTiger: It\u2019s not in a band so if you can count it for me.<\/p>\n
Gyata: You bring it.<\/p>\n
Judge Quist: So you heard what I said? \nTiger: Yes, I\u2019ve heard you. \nJudge Quist: Otherwise, tomorrow I won\u2019t deliver. First thing tomorrow morning okay? \nTiger: Okay. \nGyata: So you get to me then I will get to my lord before tomorrow morning so that he can do this thing once and for all. \nJudge Quist: Just do it once and for all then we free the guy. I have all the power and I will free him, so no fear. \nTiger: Thank you. \nJudge Quist: So I\u2019ll see you tomorrow. \nTiger: Thank you.<\/p>\n
Tiger managed to raise the rest of the GHc 4,000.00 and a thousand for him before calling for a meeting with Quist. This would be the last meeting before the judgment day. \nTypical of him, Quist was around to grab his last Ghc 4,000.00 cash at the Afia hotel and with that, gave an assurance that he was going to deliver his part of the contract. \nThe Judgment Day<\/p>\n
The 25th day of July, 2014 arrived, the court room was packed with lawyers, attorneys and investigators waiting to pursue both civil and criminal cases. Friends, families and members of the public had taken their seats in anticipation of the dreaded judgment on the robbery case. Both the judge (Quist) and clerk Gyata were late in coming.<\/p>\n
This was because while the lawyers were waiting for him (Quist), he and his clerks were with us (Tiger team) to take the bribe as negotiated.<\/p>\n
The Tiger team had split into two; one was in the court room and the other was with Quist at his famous Afia Hotel to give him the balance of the bribe money he had demanded in exchange for the discharge of the accused armed robber. It was not until 11 o\u2019clock that Justice Quist and Gyata arrived at the court. They explained to frustrated lawyers that their late arrival was due to traffic.<\/p>\n
After about some 30 minutes in chamber, Justice Quist appeared in the courtroom and the first case he called was \u201cour\u201d case involving Kwesi Nkrumah and his accomplices.<\/p>\n
The trial involved three accused persons. The prosecution had called four witnesses who had given their evidence in chief and been cross-examined. It was obvious that this was a judgment that had been hurriedly cooked after the deal was brokered and the cash received that morning. Knowing the deal we had struck with the judge, we naturally expected and \u201cnot guilty\u201d verdict.<\/p>\n
All the same, we were shocked beyond believe when Justice Quist, in acquitting our armed robber \u201cfriend\u201d, read a scanty one page judgment. In three minutes, all was over. Three minutes (one page) for an armed robbery case that had lasted five solid years (2009 \u2013 2014). A cry of horror nearly burst from my throat, in spite of myself. It was nothing but shocking travesty of justice.<\/p>\n
It even became more dramatic when, in his haste, Justice Quist forgot to even touch on one of the accused persons Napoleon Gomez. Napoleon Gomez had earlier on, in a confession statement during the trial, said that he was part of the robbery but Quist, in his haste after collecting the cash, had released him too.<\/p>\n
Not even the most successful judge is safe in a world of thieves. Just imagine it! The pains of years of arduous and honest gathering and eventual acquisition ground to naught when a thief strikes. Dreams fulfilled at last after years of self-sacrifice and meticulous focus fizzle out in just a day, all because of thieves! Not all are able to survive such shocks.<\/p>\n
A thief is therefore a very dangerous element in every society. It is even worse when he is armed, not only with a weapon but also with the assurance of walking free from Justice Quist\u2019s court if caught.<\/p>\n
It would be recalled that in the\u2026edition of The New Crusading GUIDE, Undercover \u2013 \u2018Ghana In The Eyes of God\u2019 broke. The story said that over 170 staff and judges of the judicial service would be unmasked for various acts of corruption that they had been engaged in.<\/p>\n
This particular investigation lasted over two years, and the team, headed by our ace undercover reporter, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, combed through the length and breadth of Ghana to establish these facts. The painstaking nationwide operation covered the northern sector (Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions) the middle sector (Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern and Volta Regions) and the southern sector (Western, Central and Greater Accra Regions)<\/p>\n
From judges’ drivers, police escorts, ushers, interpreters, bailiffs, through CID officials, prosecutors, investigators to clerks and registrars, everybody was shockingly eager to take bribes unabashedly so as to facilitate dubious meetings with judges and magistrates.<\/p>\n
We caught different categories of people on hidden camera taking varying sums of money and gifts from desperate clients.<\/p>\n
Stay put for a series of shocking stories of corruption on the part of people who have long been seen as the epitome of fairness and integrity: upholders of the national motto; \u201cfreedom and justice\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
Credit: Anas Aremeyaw Anas<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2026 When Cash Determines Life And Death, When Criminals Are Unleashed I-Onto Society, When The Solution Rather Is The Cause, One Wonders Where To Begin! One Wonders Where To Begin When The Source Of Corruption Itself Is The Court! One quakes as he quizzes quickly to quicken his quest to quell the quack deeds of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":38888,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[8,38],"yoast_head":"\n
Judicial scandal: How Anas 'busted' Justice Quist - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n