Andy Appiah-Kubi, the former Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, has said the current Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, is innocent until proven guilty.
The former MP argued that it would be wrong to conclude that the MP is guilty before formal charges are filed and proven in court.
Speaking in an interview, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi stated, “It is very unfortunate that a thing like that has happened. But professionally, I understand that a person is deemed to be innocent until proven guilty and, therefore, I would not jump to conclusions. He has the right to defend himself, and I’m sure he will exercise that right”.
“So, for now, every allegation remains an allegation that has not been proven and, therefore, I will consider them still as allegations. It is my prayer that we understand the situation as it is now and exercise the capacity to wait until charges are preferred.
“So, for now, they haven’t even preferred charges. So, we are still privy to the allegations without law,” he stated.
“The immunity to arrest is limited to your presence in Parliament, on your way to Parliament, and on your way from Parliament,” he said.
He added, “When you exit Parliament and go to your house, you could be arrested even as a Member of Parliament, provided you would have done something wrong that can be proved under the law”.
“Diplomacy has its limits also. Diplomacy cannot be invoked in the commission of crime, so diplomacy cannot also exonerate an offender if it is so proven,” he said.
“So, there cannot be an avenue for the diplomatic platform to be used to exonerate the commission of crime, and, therefore, I don’t think this is available. Crime is crime,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the parliament of Ghana has confirmed that the member of parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, has been detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
According to the Parliamentary leadership, they are engaging Ghana’s mission in The Hague for further details, with more information expected in due course.
In a statement issued by the Clerk of Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, which was shared on the official social media handles of the House.
The statement asserted that Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has been informed of the matter.
The statement read, “It has come to the attention of Parliament that the Hon Member for Asante Akyem North Constituency, Mr Kwame Ohene Frimpong, has been detained at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.
“The Rt Hon Speaker and the leadership of the House are in touch with Ghana’s Mission in The Hague for detailed information on the matter. The public will be duly informed appropriately on this matter,” the statement read.
Parliament statement follows reports, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, has been has been detainedat the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Reports suggest Ohene Kwame Frimpong was arrested in connection with an investigation linked to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Sources claim the MP is being investigated over alleged financial crimes, money laundering and suspected “romance scams” involving an estimated amount of US$32 million.
The information gathered suggests the MP for Asante Akyem North was reportedly arrested over the weekend.