A 28-year-old driver, Samuel Issah Abdulai, who was arrested on his wedding day for allegedly defrauding multiple people, has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Abdulai is accused of collecting GH₵352,000 from three complainants under the pretense of securing visas to Mongolia, Georgia, Albania, and Malaysia but failed to deliver. He allegedly operated with an accomplice, Antwi, advertising fake visa services online.
Charged with defrauding by false pretenses and document forgery, Abdulai pleaded not guilty. The court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, granted him GH₵150,000 bail with three sureties, one of whom must justify the bail conditions. He must also report to the police every two weeks.
According to Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, Abdulai initially posed as someone in Belarus and convinced victims he could secure work visas. The complainants, Sarah Ohenewa, Matilda Ayaaba, and Aisha Ahmed, paid him amounts ranging from GH₵47,000 to GH₵250,000, with Aisha also collecting funds from 11 others.
After receiving payments through his mobile money account, Abdulai went into hiding but later sent fake electronic visas via WhatsApp. Suspicious of fraud, the victims tracked him down and arrested him at his wedding ceremony in Nkawie, handing him over to the Teshie Police.
Investigations by the Immigration DFEC Unit confirmed the visas were fraudulent. The case continues as the court deliberates on the next steps.
