An Assistant Collector of Taxes of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Mr George Dadson, who was committed by the Justice S. G. Baddoo Committee to stand trial at a law court for perjury has apologised to the committee. Mr Sam Awotwe, counsel for the customs officer accompanied him to appear before the committee to make the apology, and said his client had regretted his actions and would like to apologise sincerely for forgiveness. He said his client had no experience of how to comport himself before any committee of enquiry, since this was his first time of appearing before one. Mr Awotwe said he reminded his client of the seriousness of his behaviour when he appeared before the committee, since appearing before a fact-finding committee could be likened to making an appearance before a law court. Mr Justice S.G. Baddoo, chairman of the committee, accepted the apology but cautioned the customs officer to show respect next time he appeared before any committee. He said the committee was a fact-finding one and witnesses appearing before it were expected to provide the committee with the facts for the committee to make the appropriate recommendation. It would be recalled that Mr Dadson, who exhibited gross disrespect before the committee probing the CEPS, was last Monday committed to stand trial at a law court for perjury. He told the committee that as an officer in charge of verification of vehicle documents, he did not know a police officer with whom he had worked on more than three occasions. Although he also told the committee that a vehicle which was under investigation by the police officer had been genuinely cleared from the Tema Harbour, it later turned out that the documents covering the vehicle, which was imported from the United States of America, were forged. In spite of the evidence of lying, Mr Dadson did not show any remorse and instead resorted to threats against newsmen who carried a story about the admonition of the chairman of the committee to him to be of good behaviour as a customs officer. When he was asked to show why he should not be charged for perjury and whether he would show remorse and apologise, he exhibited even more insolence towards the committee. He said he did not make his position clearer the last time he appeared before the committee which was why the committee did not understand him and asked to be given the chance to explain himself further. When given the opportunity, Mr Dadson repeated what he had said last week, pointing out that as he dealt with a lot of people who went to verify their vehicle documents, he was not in a position to strike any acquaintances. When asked about the complimentary card he gave to the policeman, he retorted that complimentary cards were meant to be given out to whoever cared for one and not necessarily for acquaintances. Mr Justice Baddoo, who could not contain any more of the rudeness of the customs officer, called in the investigator attached to the committee to take a statement from him on the basis of what he told the committee and charge him with perjury and also put him before court. Source: Daily Graphic