76 Visa Fraud Cases Detected By British Highi C'ssion

The newly created Document and Visa Fraud Unit (DVFU) of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), is investigating reports of 76 visa fraud cases referred to it by the British High Commission in Accra.

Mr. Patrick K. Ampewuah, Deputy Director of CID who disclosed this to The Chronicle yesterday said 27 of the cases had been prosecuted in court resulting in the conviction of 11 of the culprits on charges which included possession of forged documents, (under section 166 of Act 29/60), uttering forged documents (section 169) and forgery of documents (section 158(1).

Sixteen of the cases are still pending in court while investigations continue in the remaining 49.

He said the unit was set up in response to the numerous reports of fake documents presented by visa applicants.

Majority of the cases involved forged bank statements, which the CID capo said were masterminded by self-styled "connection men."

Mr. Ampewuah said the purpose of establishing the unit had been achieved because so far cases reported had been dealt with, with a sense of urgency.

He said apart from the British High Commission, the unit had received similar reports from the Australian High Commission and the German Embassy and was ready to work with all the remaining missions.

He expressed the determination of the police, in collaboration with the embassies, to stamp out the use of forged documents in support of visa applications.