The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), DCP Frank Mba has described suspected internet fraudster, Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi as a “billionaire crook” that has the means to hire the best of lawyers to defend himself in court.
He stated this on Thursday on a radio programme, ‘Real Talk With Kike’ while reacting to Hushpuppi’s arrest in June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and subsequent trial in the United States.
Mba said the 37-year-old was just one of many “baby and bigger” criminals engaging in internet fraud.
The police image maker appealed to parents to monitor their children, and ask questions when such children begin to live above their legitimate means.
He also appealed to traditional rulers to desist from handing out chieftaincy titles to young people with questionable sources of livelihood.
Hushpuppi is being represented by a lawyer, Gal Pissetzky of Pissetzky & Berliner, who has vowed to put up a “vigorous defence” to ensure the accused is free of the charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, among others, at the resumed hearings on Monday.
He faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
Mba said, “Hushpuppi will enjoy the privileges of being tried in a free world and in a liberal democracy. I also have no doubt about his capacity to pay for the best of lawyers. He’s a billionaire crook. He should have the capacity to pay.
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“But the good thing about the law is that, when the facts are so clear, they speak for themselves. As long as the prosecution is able to make out their case and establish their case, the judge would certainly give judgment favour of the prosecution.
“However, if the prosecution is unable to prove their case, then the benefit of the doubt would be given to the suspect, although I doubt if that would happen in Huspuppi’s case.
“Because there is massive multilateral collaboration still working on that case and putting evidence together.
“I’m not going to weep for Hushpuppi and I say no one should. There are still a lot of baby Hushpuppis around, a lot of bigger Hushpuppis around.
“We will need to walk together as a people. Hushpuppi is a metaphor to look at the bigger picture facing us.”
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