PDS case: Lawyers detained were invited as suspects a day earlier -- EOCO
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has rejected claims that lawyers involved in the ongoing investigation into the Power Distribution Services (PDS) case were unlawfully detained while representing their clients.
The clarification follows public criticism after legal representatives of the accused persons were reportedly taken into custody during investigations linked to the alleged transfer of funds believed to belong to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The case involves former PDS officials, including Philip Ayensu and Viraj Phat, as well as lawyers Sophia Korkor and Justice Menka-Premoh, who have since been granted bail pending further investigations.
Addressing the issue on Accra-based JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, May 9, EOCO Executive Director Raymond Archer stated that the lawyers were not arbitrarily arrested after arriving to represent clients, but had earlier been invited as suspects.
“Just clarify that the PDS investigation is a joint investigation between the BNI and EOCO… and the lawyers that you're talking about were invited as suspects, and then they turn up on the scheduled day,” he explained.
Mr. Archer further argued that the legal representatives were already part of the investigative scope before their appearance at the agency.
“It is not true that lawyers came to represent their clients and then they were arrested. That is not true. I will not even allow interrogations to continue or start with any suspect unless his lawyer is present,” he stated.
The EOCO boss further noted that the investigation, which stems from a petition by the Financial Intelligence Centre, remains active and methodical.