Benin president denies role in alleged fraud

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Benin's President Boni Yayi has denied involvement in an alleged savings fraud, speaking publicly for the first time about accusations made by lawmakers in the impoverished West African country.

Yayi, talking to reporters during a visit to Finland, said on Wednesday the accusations were politically motivated ahead of an election scheduled for March next year.

Members of Benin's parliament have tried to impeach Yayi for his alleged involvement in a scheme which swindled thousands of people out of their savings and which has already led to large-scale street protests and the sacking of a minister.

"We are a few months away from elections ... we have to look at this as one of the punches thrown when elections approach," he told reporters. His spokesman in Benin has previously said the president was not involved. Members of parliament accuse Yayi of hosting officials from ICC Services, a firm accused of stealing some 100 billion CFA francs (126 million pounds) in deposits after promising returns of 20-50 percent.

"I have put everyone (involved) in prison and I have put in place a programme for forcing those in prison to make reimbursements, and that programme is underway, they have started," he said, adding that experts from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund would suggest ways of returning funds to Beninois investors.

"Me, I am a Protestant, I cannot take money from others," Yayi said.

(Reporting by Brett Young in Helsinki; Additional reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; Writing by Daniel Magnowski in Dakar; Editing by Louise Ireland)