Frank Benneh re-opens defence

Chief fined for ejecting tenant

Accra (Greater Accra) 1 Feb 2000

Frank Yaw Benneh, a former diplomat, on Monday told a Regional Tribunal in Accra that, he did not at any particular time indulge in any drug business, while at post in Geneva, Switzerland.

Led by his counsel, Mr Ray Kakraba-Quarshie, the accused who is before the tribunal for dealing in drugs, was re-opening his defence on oath, because he had earlier given unsworn evidence to the tribunal, chaired by Mr Justice Wright Mensah.

Benneh decided to give evidence to enable the Deputy Attorney -General, Mr Martin Amidu, to cross-examine him.

Benneh said he was an intelligence officer detailed among other things, to ascertain the involvement of Ghanaians in drug trafficking in Geneva.

He said he was keeping surveillance on two persons, whom he thought were Ghanaians, because they were blacks, at a supermarket, which was about 100 metres from his residence.

According to the accused, the two persons were later identified as Sierra Leoneans when he was arrested with them.

He named one of the Sierra Leoneans, arrested by the Swiss Police, as Seidu.

Benneh said when he was arrested, he told Inspector Becker, leader of the Swiss Police, that he was a diplomat on an intelligence duty, but the officer invited him to their office, where he gave a statement.

He said he reported the incidence to his senior officer at the Ghana Embassy from where a similar report was sent home to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Disclosing the content of the message, which he sent to the home office in Accra, Benneh said, "I have been apprehended together with some Africans in dabbling in some drug related activities".

Benneh told the tribunal that he is now on interdiction, but has worked for the Ministry for 25 years.

He said he was accredited to Brazil and France for four years each, and Switzerland for two years and that, he spent seven years in the Accra office.

He explained further that while with the Ministry, he attended a course of study at Greenhill in Accra, University of Nairobi in Kenya and University of Brazil.

The accused said he was the Deputy Director of Operations while at post and that, his office has a well-defined parameter, which sought to defend the security of the state.

The case continues on Friday, February four.

GRi../

Suhum (Eastern Region) 1 Feb. 2000

A 58- year- old Chief of Agomada, near Suhum, who allegedly ejected a tenant on the grounds that he was able to buy a cat to prepare a meal but delayed in the payment of his rent, was fined 40,000 cedis by Suhum Community Tribunal presided over by Mr G.Y. Agbenyegah.

Nene Kortey Agmortey, who pleaded guilty, will go to prison for three months' in default of the fine.

According to Police Inspector E.A. Yeboah, in January, this year, Nene Agmortey unlawfully ejected Mr Oduro Ababio, the tenant, for delaying in the payment of rent but bought a cat to prepare a "delicious meal" in the house.

GRi./