A 28-year-old driver, Samuel Issah Abdulai, who was arrested on his wedding day for allegedly defrauding multiple individuals under the pretense of securing visas, has been granted bail.

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The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, admitted him to bail in the sum of GHC150,000 with three sureties, one of whom must justify their worth.

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Abdulai, facing three counts of defrauding by false pretenses and forgery of documents, pleaded not guilty. The court also ordered him to report to the police every two weeks as part of his bail conditions.

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Abdulai was tracked down at his wedding ceremony in Nkawie, Ashanti Region. They apprehended him and handed him over to the Teshie Police.

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According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, Abdulai and an accomplice identified as Antwi allegedly advertised visa services online between September and December 2024. The duo claimed to facilitate travel to destinations such as Belarus, Andorra, Albania, and Malaysia, promising employment opportunities.

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At the time, Abdulai reportedly misrepresented himself as being in Belarus, convincing unsuspecting victims of his credibility. Three complainants—Ohenewa Sarah and Matilda Ayaaba, both traders, and Aisha Ahamed, a businesswoman—contacted him for visa assistance.

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The prosecution stated that Abdulai collected GHC47,000 from Sarah, GHC55,000 from Matilda, and GHC250,000 from Aisha, who had gathered funds from eleven other individuals hoping to travel. These transactions were done via mobile money, with the payments linked to Abdulai’s registered number.

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However, after receiving the funds, Abdulai allegedly disappeared. In December 2024, he resurfaced and sent what he claimed were electronic visas via WhatsApp. The complainants, suspecting fraud, conducted further checks.

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“Further checks on the electronic visas at the Immigration DFEC Unit revealed that all the visas were fake,” the prosecution stated.

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