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General News of Friday, 16 March 2012

Source: king ambrose edward addo/ xfm 95.1

Bempah's incarceration was like ...- Faible

Owusu Bempah's incarceration was like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly- Egbert Faible

A legal practitioner Egbert Faible has said the way and manner Ernest Owusu Bempah is being handled by the BNI operatives is inappropriate.

According to Egbert Faible, the First Lady as a private individual could bring a legal case against Owusu Bempah if she feels strongly her person has been defamed ³but to use a machinery of state and bring the young man in as if he¹s gone to do something out of the world, I think it is like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly. It is most unfortunate to say the least²

³First lady is just an honorific title; the constitution doesn¹t mention first lady neither does any law in the country mention¹s first ladyŠ She, like any citizen of this republic, ones an allegation bordering on defamation character has being brought against her, all that she can do is to bring a private civil suit on grounds of defamation against Owusu Bempah², he explained. Ernest Owusu Bempah has been in BNI custody since Wednesday after he alleged that the First Lady had received some amount of money from the controversial Woyome judgment debt payment saga.

He has shuffled between the BNI and the CID headquarters and this Egbert Faible described as ³very political², especially when other people have walked free after making similar or worse allegations and defamation statements. He however condemned Owusu Bempah¹s allegation, saying it wasn¹t fair and responsible ³especially when it has come out that he has no evidence to back it².

He said better options could be explored other than the BNI interrogation asking further, ³will Mrs Mills be ready to come to court to testify for the prosecution against Owusu Bempah?²

Meanwhile, Ernest Owusu Bempah has since been released on police enquiry bail.

Story by King Ambrose Edward Addo/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana