General News of Friday, 13 November 2009

Source: JoyOnline

I was not stripped naked - Owusu

Former country manager of oil exploration firm Kosmos Energy, George Owusu, has denied ever being harassed or stripped naked by security operatives.

The Minority in Parliament called a news conference on Thursday to criticize government for allegedly harassing people, including Mr. Owusu, involved in oil exploration in the country.

The Minority said the former Kosmos Energy boss was stripped naked in the full glare of his family by agents of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at his residence.

But in an interview with JoyFM on Friday, Mr Owusu confirmed his home was searched by the CID in July this year but ruled out claims that the incident amounted to harassment.

“I was not stripped naked. I was not strip-searched in front of my family,” he said.

“My comment on this is that these guys are professionals; they were just doing their job and I don’t have any issues with the policemen. The way they conducted their business, I think it was in a civilized manner.”

Mr Owusu recounted the incident in which he said a 15-member platoon of security operatives picked up several documents in his custody, including those on his computer – both at his residence and office.