Isaac Addo, the presiding judge of the Circuit Court 2 in Accra has denied bail to a 45-year-old woman accused of defrauding by false pretences.
Faustina Foli, an unemployed and a resident of Ablekuma, pleaded not guilty to allegations that she falsely promised to secure U.S. visas for a Complainant’s family members in exchange for GH¢265,000.
Foli is charged with Defrauding by False Pretences, contrary to Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The case has been adjourned to December 10, 2024.
Foli was denied bail on grounds of a prior incident at the Weija Police Station, where she reportedly jumped bail in a separate matter.
The Allegations
According to police Inspector ASP Isaac Anquandah, Faustina Foli approached the Complainant, Daniel Acquaye, an insurance officer residing at Bortianor, in October 2024.
She claimed her fiancé, one Charles Agbele, works at the Canadian High Commission and could secure protocol visas to Canada and the U.S. at a discounted rate.
To bolster her claim, Faustina Foli allegedly presented copies of Canadian visas purportedly secured by her fiancé for other applicants. Convinced by her representations, Acquaye paid her GH¢265,000 to secure visas for his daughter and three relatives.
Faustina Foli reportedly promised to deliver the visas within a month, but disappeared after collecting the money and passports. Efforts to contact her were unsuccessful, leading Acquaye to report the matter to the police.
Police Investigation
The Police arrested Faustina Foli after a complaint was filed. In her caution statement, she admitted to receiving the funds, but claimed she was instructed to hand the money to a man named Kojo, on behalf of her fiancé.
She failed, however, to provide investigators with sufficient information about these individuals or their whereabouts.
Faustina Foli also asserted that she is a Togolese national. However, a search revealed a Ghana Card bearing her name and identification number, suggesting she is a Ghanaian.
Police noted that Faustina Foli lacks a permanent place of residence, raising further concerns about her reliability and contributing to the decision to deny bail.
Ongoing Investigation
The police are extending their investigation to the Canadian High Commission to verify the existence of Charles Agbele and his alleged involvement.
Meanwhile, the accused remains in custody as law enforcement continues to piece together the case.
