Visa contractor remanded for defrauding, falsification of document

Akim Sweduro (E/R), June 2, GNA - William Kwesi Ampofo, a licensed letter writer, charged with defrauding by false pretence and forgery of official documents, has been remanded in police custody until June 8th, by the Akim Swedru circuit court, presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah. Ampofo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The fact, as related by police inspector Kweku Appiah were that, the complainant, Mr Emmanuel Simpson Akumaning, is an Akim Oda based licensed chemical seller, while Ampofo lives at Akim Abenase. Inspector Appiah stated that sometime in November 2009, Ampofo, a friend of Mr Akumaning learnt that Mr Akumaning deals in herbal medicine in partnership with his (Ampofo) brother's wife based in Italy. That, Ampofo, told Mr Akumaning that the herbal medicine business was lucrative overseas and that his (Ampofo) brother's wife was cheating Mr Akumaning.

The prosecution said based upon this narration the accused promised to secure a Holland visa for the complainant to enable him travel to Italy via Holland.

He said the complainant started dishing out various sums of money to Ampofo upon request for processing the travel document but failed to secure the Holland visa.

According to inspector Kweku Appiah, the accused again convinced Mr Akumaning not to give up, but to go to the Spanish embassy for the visa in order to travel to Italy through Spain. The prosecutor said on April 14th this year, Ampofo forwarded the travel document to the Spanish Embassy in Accra, but he was asked to check in two weeks period, adding when Ampofo returned to the Embassy on April 27, the visa was refused with the explanation that the document produced were fake.

Inspector Appiah said in view of spending GH12, 000.00 on the document for the visa, Mr Akumaning tried to reach Ampofo on phone but failed, since he had absconded. He said the matter was reported to the police who arrested Ampofo. Ampofo has denied receiving a total of GH12, 000, for Akumaning saying he only took GH5, 500. 2 June