The Dansoman Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit, has remanded a 48-year-old unemployed man, Ernest Benieh, after he pleaded guilty to defrauding two members of the St. Theresa’s Parish Catholic Church at North Kaneshie under the pretext of securing Canadian visas for their relatives.
Ernest Benieh was charged with two counts of defrauding by false pretences, contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
He pleaded guilty to both counts when he appeared before the court on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
According to the brief facts presented by the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, the complainants — Christiana Ayiku, a Secretary at St. Theresa’s Parish and Nina Mbeah, a Caterer at the same church — were close friends.
The accused, Benieh, was said to be in a romantic relationship with Nina.
During their courtship, Benieh allegedly told Nina that he was the Deputy Managing Director of “Embridge Oil Refinery” located at Tema Community 12 and that his company was recruiting workers to train and send to Canada for employment.
He offered to help Nina’s younger brother, Charles Mbeah, secure a visa and demanded GH¢25,000, of which she paid GH¢8,000 upfront.
The accused later convinced Nina to inform her friends about the supposed opportunity, leading Christiana to express interest in helping her husband travel to Canada.
Benieh then demanded GH¢25,000 from Christiana, followed by an additional GH¢4,600 as a “tip” for a supposed white man who would issue the visa. In total, she paid GH¢29,600.
However, after several excuses and failed promises, the accused went into hiding. Suspicious of his conduct, Nina visited Tema to verify his claims, only to discover that no company called Embridge Oil Refinery existed.
She later lured him out under the guise of introducing new clients, leading to his arrest.
In his caution statement to the police, Benieh admitted to committing the offence.
The court, after considering his guilty plea and confession, ruled that his explanation did not absolve him of wrongdoing.
Her Honour Abdul-Bassit therefore remanded him into custody, stating that his plea was consistent with his admission of guilt.
Benieh is expected to reappear before the court on October 27, 2025, for sentencing.
