10 cops in visa fraud

An Accra High Court is expected to commence the trial of 15 persons suspected to have engaged in visa fraud, including 10 police officers. The others are immigration officers.

This brings to 17, the number of persons, including Thomas Botha aka Prince Osei Tutu, a travel and tour operator and Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Edwin Adjetey Doku, who are already standing trial before the court for the same offence.

Other suspects are ASP William Danyi Kooyaarah, Insp Kinsgford Fofie, D/Sgt Richmond Ofori, PW/D/L/CPL Augusta Kesseh Asamoah, G/CPL Dominic Owusu, PW/D/L/CPL Esterlyn Baffour Awuah, PW/D/L/CPL Cynthia Manu, G/L/CPL Prince Addo, G/L/CPL Andrews Anning and PW/D/L/CPL Yvonne Sarpong, all police personnel.

The others are AI William Najimi, ICO-1 Janet Aboagye, ICO-1 Jerry Nyarko, AICO II Augustine Asare Appiah and AICO II Grace Nkulenu Sabia Akua – immigration officers.

Botha is alleged to have, with the connivance of the above mentioned security officers, secured uniforms for civilians to pose as security personnel to acquire visas at the American Embassy.

When the case came up for hearing in the court presided over by Justice Bright Mensah yesterday, the prosecution said the other accused persons would be added to the two already on trial, as the Attorney-General (A-G) had ordered that the 15 police and immigration officers should be prosecuted.

The court accordingly adjourned hearing of the case to June 23, 2015.

Botha was represented by Charles Pouzuing.

Ms Winifred Sarpong, in the advice on the case docket dated April 23, 2015, forwarded to the A-G’s department, said the suspects must be charged.

She said: “Having looked at the totality of the evidence on the case docket, it is my opinion that there is sufficient evidence to charge all the suspects.”

Ms Sarpong stated that Botha be charged with forgery of official documents and abetment of crime, namely, defrauding by false pretences.

She further directed that Insp Fofie, D/Sgt Ofori, G/CPL Owusu, PW/D/L/CPL Baffour Awuah, G/L/CPL Addo, G/L/CPL Anning, PW/D/L/CPL Sarpong, ICO-1 Aboagye, ICO-1 Jerry Nyarko and AICO II Sabia Akua should all be charged with defrauding by false pretences.

According to the advice, PW/D/L/CPL Asamoah, PW/D/L/CPL Manu and AI Najimi must also be charged with impersonation contrary to Section 134 of the Criminal Offences Act of 1960, while ASI Adjetey Doku and AICO II Asare Appiah should each be charged with abetment of crime, namely, defrauding by false pretences.

In respect of ASP Kooyaarah, the state does not wish to press charges against him.