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Dennis Seyram Benson, who posed as a lawyer for some alleged secessionists in some courts, has been taken into police custody by the Kaneshie District Court.
Benson faces six counts of defrauding under false pretenses and deception of the court by phishing.
It is said that he acted as a lawyer before some judges and magistrates in the metropolis of Accra.
The judges included Ms. Rosemary Baah Torsu and Mr. Emmanuel M Essandoh, both on the Circuit Court, and Ms. Ama Adomako Kwakye from the District Court.
He pleaded not guilty before the court presided over by Ms. Rosemond Doodua Agyiri.
The court said that due to the seriousness of the crime, it will place the defendants in police custody to reappear on January 4 of next year.
Mr. Rexford Nii Nortey Lokko, who represented Benson, prayed for bail and said that the defendant resides in Aflao-Denu and is single.
According to the lawyer, the defendant would make himself available to the court when necessary.
The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare opposed the posting of bail, as the defendant would interfere with some of the witnesses when bail was granted.
Therefore, ASP Asare asked the court to return the defendant in order to prevent him from interfering with other names mentioned in the case.
The prosecution said that preliminary investigations have revealed that Benson is a farmer and also a member of the secessionist group called the Western Togo Restoration Front (WRTF).
The prosecution said that sometime in September this year, a group of such WTRFs were arrested and charged with various crimes, including the crime of treason.
He said that as a result of the arraignments of the alleged secessionists, Benson was mostly seen completely robbed as defense attorney for the alleged secessionists in public hearing.
ASP Asare said Benson’s conduct in and out of court drew suspicion from police, who began investigating whether or not Benson was a lawyer.
Prosecution: The police suspicion was later confirmed and on December 17 this year, Benson was arrested in the Kaneshie District Court in Accra when he appeared completely robbed as a lawyer.
The prosecution said Benson announced himself as the defendant’s attorney in the secessionist case.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the defendants reside in Aflao in the Volta region and mostly appeared in Accra courts.
Benson further admitted that he was not a lawyer but a farmer.
The prosecution said investigations are ongoing.
—GNA