A businessman accused of collecting GHC 464,180 and 7,000 Euros from seven persons under the pretext of securing them Schengen Visas to Europe but failed is before an Accra Circuit Court.
Felix Gyawu Baffour, charged with seven counts of defrauding with false pretences, has pleaded not guilty.
The court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah has admitted Baffour to GHC100,000 bail.
The court has ordered Baffour to reappear on June 19, 2024.
Prosecution led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Maxwell Oppong said the complainants, Sandra Aidoo, Nyarko Portin, Amoah Richard Ampad, Bismark Owusu Sekyere, Agnes Agyapomaa, Evans Appiah Kubi and Sylvester Cudjoe were a Pharmacy Technician, Unemployed, a Teacher, a Building Contractor and Trider in that order. Felix Gyawu Baffour is a Businessman and a Sound Engineer, residing at Amrahia, near Accra.
DSP Oppong said between April 2023 and April 2024, the accused presented himself to the complainants as an agent who could help them secure Schengen Visas to travel to Europe.
Based on such false representation, Prosecution said the complainants had trust in the accused person who collected cash sums of GHC98,390 from Sandra Aidoo, 5,000 Euros and GHC41,100 from Nyarko Portia, GH$100,890 from Amoah Richard Ampadu, GHC 120,000 from Bismark Owusu Sekyere.
Prosecution said the accused person also collected €2,000 Euros and GHC16,900 from Agnes Agyapomaa, GHC42,000 from Evans Appiah Kubi and GH¢45,000 from Sylvester Cudjoe, all totaling GH¢464,180 and €7,000 Euros, with the promise of securing Schengen visas for them but failed. All efforts made to retrieve their monies proved futile.
Prosecution said on April 15, 2024, Sandra Aidoo lodged a formal complaint to the Boatsonaa Divisional Command and while investigation was ongoing, information was received indicating that, accused person had been arrested at East Legon Police Station for a similar offence.
The court heard that the accused person was subsequently handed over to Baatsonaa Police on May 10, 2024, to assist in the investigation.
The prosecution said other complainants upon hearing the arrest of the accused person who had been hiding from them for a while, rushed to the Station and registered their respective complaints with the Police.
Prosecution said the accused in his caution statements in the presence of an independent witness admitted to the offences.
