More Troubles For Hushpuppi As He Is Denied Bail In The US

Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi has been denied bail in his ongoing suspected internet fraud trial in the United States.

His lawyer, Gal Pissetzky who had vowed to prove his client’s innocence, applied for him to leave jail with an electronic tag and live with the uncle of a woman with whom he has a child, but US prosecutors opposed the bail application.

Pissetzky told the judge in Chicago via a video link that his client can not jump bail because he is an international celebrity who wouldn’t want to ruin his reputation.

“He is loved and respected. He is a celebrity.

“I don’t see the reason why he would want to ruin his credibility in the world and his status rather than stay here and face this allegation.

“Anywhere he goes, people will know. Having grown up very poor in Nigeria, Mr Abbas is now paid to pose with high-priced items such as Louis Vuitton bags that people would buy after seeing his posts on Instagram.

“He is an influencer. That’s a job today, as much as it is hard to imagine. That’s a full-time job,” he told the judge.

However, the prosecuting team argued that Hushpupi if granted bail, could commit crimes with just a smartphone and an internet connection, and that he posed too much of a flight risk.

Judge Jeffrey Gilbert after hearing the arguments of both parties, denied Hushpuppi bail on grounds of him being a flight risk.

He also ordered that he be remanded in custody until he is taken to a court in California.

Hushpuppi and his friend Olalekan Jacon Ponle, better known as Woodberry were extradited to the United States for trials after they were arrested in June by a team of highly trained Dubai police officers over alleged internet fraud activities running into several millions of dollars, Naija News recalls.