Businessman charged with visa fraud granted 60 million cedis bail

Accra, June 23, GNA - A 32-year-old Businessman, who collected 3,300 pounds from a labourer under the pretext of securing a United Kingdom visa for him, has been admitted to a 60-million cedi bail with a surety, by an Accra Regional Tribunal. Mohammed Saed alias Bozen, 32, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences and will reappear on June 29. Ibrahim Gibran alias Baba, 33, Saed's accomplice, who is charged with the same offence, is on the run.

Police Chief Inspector Mary Agbozo told the tribunal chaired by Mr Justice Frank Manu that the complainant, Mr Kwaku Asare is an employee of Anglogold Ashanti, while the accused is a businessman. She said sometime in July last year, Mr Asare needed a UK visa and, therefore, encountered Saed at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region. She said Saed managed to lure Mr Asare to travel with him from

Obuasi to Accra, under the pretext of securing the visa for him. Chief Inspector Agbozo said while in Accra, Saed collected 3,300 pounds from Mr Asare through one Mr Kwame Owusu, Mr Asare's brother, who is also a witness in the case. She said Saed, who changed the money, later gave Gibran 18 million cedis and 1,650 dollars to assist him to obtain the visa for Mr Asare. According to her, Gibran made use of the money. She said when the accused persons failed to produce the visa, the complainant demanded a refund of the money, but they could not do so, adding Mr Asare then made a report to the Police who arrested Saed.