Court Benneh Frank Benneh opens his defence

Accra, Dec 14, GNA - Frank Benneh, a former diplomat Accused of dealing in drugs while in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday opened his defence at a Regional Tribunal in Accra denying the charges.

Before he started his evidence, his attorney, Mr Ray Kakraba-Quarshie told the court that evidence given by the prosecution witnesses against his client "was all hear-say". "The accused has therefore decided to give unsworn evidence and leave the rest with the court to decide", Mr Kakraba-Quarshie said. The tribunal, chaired by Mr Justice Wright Mensah agreed to the request.

Led by his counsel, 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 did not at any particular time involve himself in drug business.

Benneh 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. Later, he found out that he was at a "wrong place at a wrong time".

According to the accused, he was arrested by the Swiss police together with the two persons, who were later identified as Sierra Leoneans and accused of allegedly dealing in drugs. Benneh said he told Inspector Becker, leader of the Police team 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 embassy from where a similar report was sent home to the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Accra. Benneh said he reported the lost of his old passport which expired 10 years ago but this was found in possession of one of the prosecution witnesses arrested by the Swiss Police.

Accused denied that he pledged the passport to the witness for drugs as alleged in the evidence of the prosecution. Hearing continues on January 18, 2000. GNA