The hope of six individuals to travel to Panama in South America for greener pastures has been dashed, after paying US$14,500.00 to two businessmen, Abdul Aziz Iddris and Abdallah Abdul Sallam.
The amount was paid through one Alhassan Amin Mohammed, employee of Ayawaso North Municipal Assembly and resident of Alajo in the Greater Accra region. Alhassan first gave the money to Abdul Aziz, who also gave it to Abdallah.
The failure to provide genuine visas for the six has landed Abdallah at the Accra Circuit Court on the charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and defrauding by false pretense.
He pleaded not guilty before His Honour Isaac Addo, the presiding judge, on Monday, 4th March 2024 and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢200,000.00 with two sureties.
Abdallah was not charged alone for the offences but Abdul Aziz as well. The latter is the first accused (A1) in the suit, but failed to appear before the court.
A bench warrant applied for by the prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Jonas, was denied on the ground that there was no evidence that the court hearing notice was served on A1.
Hitherto, the court was informed that Alhassan approached Abdul Aziz, a businessman, somewhere in June 2023 that he has some friends who wish to travel to Panama for greener pastures.
Al allegedly charged and collected US$14,500.00 from the complainant to cover his friends wanting to travel out of Ghana to the central South American state.
Al also handed over US$10,000.00 out of the amount to Abdallah (A2), also a businessman, as the one who will secure the Panama visas for the friends of the complainant.
It was said that A2 brought the passports of the suspected fraud victims with the supposed visas in them after three weeks.
Two of the passengers, Musah Abdul Latif and Bismark Raymond became suspicious and, therefore, went to the Immigration office at the Kotoka International Airport to enquire whether the visas are genuine or otherwise.
Their suspicions were conformed as the immigration officers told them that the visas were fake and they cannot use them to travel.
The complainant was informed and on September 7, 2023, the matter was reported to the Accra Regional Police, and Al and A2 were arrested.
During interrogation, Al and A2 admitted the offences in their investigation caution statements.
On October 10, 2023, a letter was sent to Ghana Immigration Service with the supposed Pananman visas attached to ascertain whether they are indeed genuine or not.
The Ghana Immigration Service responded to the letter on January 19, 2024. It was discovered that the visas were counterfeit and not valid for travel. After investigation, the accused persons were charged with the offences and put before the Court.
The court has adjourned next hearing of the suit to April 16, 2024.
