Travel agent busted for alleged fraud

A Travel and Tour agent, who allegedly defrauded a trader in the sum of GH¢5,000 under the pretext of securing him United States Visa, on Friday appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

The accused, Ernest Osei Boakye, pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences, and was granted GH¢10,000 bail to re-appear on November 11.

The prosecutor, Police Chief Inspector Ben Darfour, said the complainant Richard Boahen, is a trader who resides at Amakom-Kumasi while the accused is the Deputy Managing Director of World Mark Travel and Tour Agency who resides at Nsawam.

He said sometime in 2010, the complainant, who wanted to travel to the United States of America, met a friend who later introduced the accused as a person who could assist him to obtain a US Visa and other travel documents.

Chief Inspector Darfour said the accused, after negotiations, charged the complainant GH¢15,000 and the complainant made part payment of GH¢4,700 with the understanding that after the successful completion of the process, the complainant would pay the balance of GH¢6,900.

He said the accused prepared a fictitious document for the complainant to take it to the American Embassy for interview but the complainant was denied the Visa.

The prosecutor said the accused then promised the complainant that he would assist him to get a Schegen Visa to enable him to travel to any of the European Union countries but he did not fulfill this promise and went into hiding.

Chief Inspector Darfour said on August 11, 2011, the accused was arrested and he admitted the offence, he pleaded with the police to give him up to August 24, 2011 to get the visa for the complainant but failed to honour his promise.

He was therefore charged with the offence after investigations.

Source: GNA