Samuel Issah Abdulai, a 28-year-old driver, found himself in a surprising turn of events on his wedding day when he was arrested for fraud.
At an Accra Circuit Court, he was accused of collecting GH₵352,000 from three individuals under the guise of securing electronic visas of Mongolia, Georgia, Albania, and Malaysia for them.
However, he failed to deliver.
The charges against Abdulai include three counts of defrauding by false pretences and forgery of documents.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, granted him bail set at GH₵150,000, requiring three sureties, one of whom must be justified.
Additionally, he is mandated to report to the police every two weeks.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, presented the complainants: Ohenewa Sarah and Matilda Ayaaba, both traders, and a businesswoman, Aisha Ahamed, all liver in Accra. Chief Inspector Danku noted that Abdulai resides in Nkawie, Ashanti Region.
According to the prosecution, between September and December 2024, the accused and his accomplice, Antwi, circulated advertisements online targeting individuals interested in job opportunities abroad, specifically in countries such as Belarus, Andorra, Albania, and Malaysia. At that time, Abdulai falsely claimed to be in Belarus.
The court was informed that the three complainants reached out to Abdulai at different times, and he assured them he could facilitate their visa applications.
Following this, the prosecution stated that he collected various amounts from the complainants: GH₵47,000 from Sarah Ohemewa, GH₵55,000 from Matilda Ayaaba, and GH₵250,000 from Aisha Ahamed, who had notably gathered funds from eleven others.
After receiving the payments, which were transferred to his mobile money account, Abdulai reportedly went into hiding. In December 2024, however, he reappeared, sending documents he claimed were electronic visas to the complainants via WhatsApp.
The complainants grew suspicious and began searching for Abdulai. They ultimately arrested him during his wedding ceremony in Nkawie, Ashanti Region, and turned him over to the police.
“Further checks on the electronic visas at the Immigration DFEC Unit revealed that all the visas were fake,” the prosecution said.