Two arraigned for alleged visa fraud involving GH¢45,000 

Two persons have been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a trader under the pretext of securing a Canadian visa.

Isaac Abaidoo, a social worker, and Florence Mensah, a trader, have been jointly charged with conspiracy to commit crime in 2023, while Abaidoo faces an additional charge of defrauding by false pretences.

Abaidoo and Mensah are alleged to have collected GHC45,000 from the complainant, Mavis Tagoe, a trader from Bukom, promising to secure her a Canadian visa but failed to deliver and went into hiding.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Presiding Judge Mrs. Susana Eduful admiited each accused person to bail in the sum of GHC50,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be justified with title deed documents.

Chief Inspector Godwin Wemegah, prosecuting, told the court that Tagoe was introduced to Abaidoo and Mensah by her brother, a witness in the case, after expressing interest in travelling abroad.

The court heard that the accused initially promised to secure a New Zealand work permit visa within a month and collected GHC30,000, which was handed to Mensah.

Three months later, Abaidoo informed Tagoe of challenges with the New Zealand arrangement and proposed a Canadian visa instead, requesting an additional GHC15,000.

The prosecution said Mensah assured Tagoe that the Canadian visa would be ready within two months.

After receiving the total amount of GHC45,000, Abaidoo and Mensah failed to honour their promise and went into hiding.

All efforts to locate them proved futile.
A report was subsequently lodged with the La Police, leading to their arrest.

During investigations, they admitted to the offence.

GNA