Ghana’s Envoy in Japan recalled over illegal gambling (Oct 21, 2014)




Ghana’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Edmond Kofi Agbenutse Deh, has been recalled pending the completion of a Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) inquiry into allegations that Ghana’s mission in Japan had been involved in an illegal gambling business which had led to the arrest of 10 Japanese.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration said the ambassador was on leave awaiting the conclusion of the BNI investigations, as the Japanese authorities had completed their investigations.

The statement, signed by Mr Leslie Kojo Christian, the Chief Director of the ministry, said following reports of the alleged involvement of the ambassador in an illegal gambling operation in Tokyo, the Foreign Affairs Ministry recalled Ambassador Deh for consultations.

The Ghana Embassy in Japan was instructed to submit a detailed report on the matter.

It said after exhaustive interrogation by the BNI, the ambassador was directed to return to Tokyo to assist police investigations, which, it said, had since been completed.

Background

The Daily Graphic said in a publication on the matter on October 1, 2014 that the BNI was yet to release the report of its investigations into the matter.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration had, in a statement issued by the sector Minister, Ms Hanna Tetteh, said it was being assisted by its staff in Japan to conduct its own investigations into the matter.

Casino bust

According to media reports, on March 5, this year, the police in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, arrested 10 people suspected of running an illegal gambling business in a room leased in the name of a former Ghana Ambassador to Japan, Mr William George Mensah Brandful.

Nine of the 10 had admitted the charges against them, but the 10th person, Hiroyuki Yamanoi, 35, had denied them, police sources said.

The police were also said to have seized more than $100,000.

The Tokyo Police were also reported to have asked the Ghana Ambassador to Japan to accept questioning over the incident.

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