The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, has lashed out at the Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, over reports that he sought a plea bargain arrangement with the Office of the Attorney General.
In a statement on Friday, Dr Ato Forson said the claim is “false, wicked and evil”.
He also stressed that it is intended to “incite public prejudice against me and undermine my the right to fair trial”.
According to the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Member of Parliament, “I have not, at any point in time, approached any one or authority to consider or discuss the said plea bargain that has been attributed to me”.
He is, therefore, asking Mr Tuah-Yeboah and CitiNewsroom.com to “take appropriate steps to correct this false reportage immediately”.
The media house has since retracted the report and apologised to the Minority Leader.
It also admitted misrepresenting the statements of the Deputy AG in its interview with him.
“We have, therefore, taken immediate steps to rectify this error and ensure that such inaccuracies do not occur in the future,” Citinewsroom.com said.
“Once again, we sincerely apologize to Hon Ato Forson and Hon Tuah-Yeboah for any inconvenience and harm our previous report may have caused.
“We appreciate your understanding and will continue to strive for excellence in our reporting.”
Mr Ato Forson had earlier this month dismissed similar reports that he had applied for a plea bargain.
His lawyer, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, said the former Deputy Finance Minister had not appliead for such nor an out-of-court settlement from the Office of the Attorney General as reported.
“The record would show that the Honorable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has opened his defence in the trial and has since called some of his witnesses.
“The Honourable Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has throughout maintained his innocence having pleaded not guilty to the charges.”