Visa contractor jailed for five years

A Circuit Tribunal at Tema on Wednesday sentenced Dennis Brown Akoto, a visa contractor, to five years imprisonment in hard labour for fraud by false pretext. He pleaded not guilty to charge.

Chief Inspector Alice Gyamfi, prosecuting, told the tribunal chaired by Mr Ringo Cass Azumah that in December 2001, Osei Agyemang, a soldier, at the Burma Camp, Accra was introduced to Akoto to help him secure a United States visa.

She said Akoto demanded 3,500 dollars and Agyemang paid 700 dollars and later parted with another 200 dollars and 2.250 million cedis in February 2002.

Chief Insp. Gyamfi said in the same month (February) Akoto gave a photocopy of a United States visa bearing the name of Agyemang to the victim and told him to prepare for the trip to the United States and assured him that he would receive the original visa together with his passport within three days.

She said Akoto was never seen again until he was arrested and when a search was conducted on him, 15 passports and fake travellers cheques were found on him. The prosecutor said Akoto in his caution statement admitted having committed the offence.