Woman, 22, sentenced for visa fraud

Kumasi, June 11, GNA - A 22-year-old woman who swindled a driver of his GH¢5,500.00 under the pretext of securing for him a United Kingdom (UK) visa has been sentenced by a Kumasi Circuit Court to a fine GH¢1,500.00.

Additionally, Erica Ofori was ordered to refund the money collected from the victim or serve a three-year jail term in hard labour.

This was after she had pleaded guilty to the crime.

Police Chief Inspector Isaac Mensah-Apenten told the court, presided over by Justice William Boampong, that the complainant, Kwaku Fosu, lives at Oforikrom, in Kumasi.

Erica returned to the country, last year, after having stayed in the UK for some time and was introduced to the complainant by one Akua Asieduwaa, a friend at Asante-Juaben.

She told Fosu that she was looking for people to accompany her to the UK to perform the funeral of her deceased father, who lived in that country.

The complainant became interested and Erica demanded that he paid GH¢5,500.00 to enable her to secure a travel visa for him, which he did.

Police Chief Inspector Mensah-Apenten said the lady went into hiding after collecting the money and was arrested at Asante-Mampong in April this year following a tip off.