Visa contractors charged for fraud

Three persons, who collected GH? 11,800 from a businessman under the pretext of securing Kuwait Visas for two cousins of the businessman, on Thursday, appeared before a circuit court in Accra.

The accused persons, Prince Nuhu Ahmed, Alhaji Ibrahim Issah and Sadia Saeed have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretence.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted GH?10,000 bail with two sureties.

Chief Inspector Charles Chester told the court that the complainant, Joseph Nana Asare, the businessman lives in Kumasi.

He said Prince Ahmed, graphic designer, Alhaji Issah, businessman, and Saeed, trader, live in Accra.

He said in November 2011, the complainant told a man called Richard that he wanted to assisted two of his cousins to travel out of the country and needed someone to secure Visa for them and Richard later introduced the complainant to Ahmed and Issah.

He said when Ahmed and Issah were contacted by Asare they claim they could secure Kuwait Visa for him, to enable his cousins, Larbi Ofori and Bright Mawutor to travel to Kuwait.

Chief Insp. Chester said Ahmed and Issah contacted Saeed to secure the Kuwait Visa for Ofori and Mawutor.

He said the accused persons demanded and collected GH?11,800 and passports of Ofori and Mawutor to secure Visa for them.

He said on January 1, 2012, Ahmed called the complainant to come along with Ofori and Mawutor to the Kotoka International Airport, Accra, for them to travel to Kuwait.

Chief Insp. Chester said when the complainant and his two cousins arrived at the airport they were met by the accused persons.

The prosecution said the accused persons brought passports bearing different names but with the photographs of Ofori and Mawutor to them and the plane tickets also bore the same serial number.

Chief Insp. Chester said when the accused persons were confronted by the complainant, who doubted the validity of the travel documents but the accused insisted that they were genuine.

He said Ofori and Mawutor traveled with the documents to Kuwait but on arrival to the country they were arrested and detained by immigration officers of that country.

Chief Insp. Chester said on January 22, 2012, Ofori and Mawutor were repatriated to Ghana and a report was made to the Kotobabi Police and accused persons were arrested.

He said during investigation, Sadia Saeed refunded GH?1,300 to the complainant through the police.