Blessing Ben, a 38-year-old crossdresser, has been charged with human trafficking and assault. Prior to her arrest, it was reported that she had been on the run for ten years.
Blessing has been untouchable over the past 10 years because she is said to be using charm; hitting herself on the wall and disapearing anytime she was caught.
Recently in May 2024, she transported her first minor into Ghana, then returned to Nigeria for some time before coming back with another 15-year-old girl.
This marked the unfortunate turning point in her operation.
Her last victim was a 15-year-old girl she brought into the country. When the girl realised she was brought in for prostitution and not any legitimate business, she caused an alarm.
The 15-year-old victim stood adamant about the idea of being brought into Ghana for prostitution and this resulted in a misunderstanding and the police further intervened.
The victim firmly rejected the idea of being brought to Ghana for prostitution, leading to a misunderstanding that prompted further police intervention.
On May 20, 2024, Blessing Ben was arrested. Although she initially claimed to be female, investigations revealed after her arrest that she had male organs.
This information was disclosed by the prosecution when she was arraigned before the court on October 21, 2024.
On that same day in court, she sought bail, but the judge denied her request.
The attorney explained that the denial was due to ongoing investigations by Interpol and immigration authorities.
Blessing’s lawyer after the court proceedings, explained, “My client has been charged with human trafficking and assault, which are serious offences under the criminal laws of the country. We attempted to secure her bail, but the prosecution argued that granting bail could disrupt ongoing investigations by the interpol and immigration.”
He also stated that these entities have been given a timeframe to present their findings to the court.
“They are expected to provide evidence regarding their investigations within a week, including any alerts that Interpol is indeed looking for her,” he added.
The lawyer mentioned that once the Interpol report is available, they will push for bail, as his client has since pleaded ‘Not Guilty.’
“When those findings are produced, we will await the court’s decision. If they do not provide sufficient evidence, we will further advocate for bail, as my client cannot be held for an extended period without pleading guilty.”
The case has been adjourned to October 28, 2024.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
