[ 2015-05-28 ]

10 Cops In Visa Fraud
An Accra High Court is expected to commence the
trial of 15 persons suspected to have engaged in
visa fraud, including 10 police officers. The
others are immigration officers.

This brings to 17, the number of persons,
including Thomas Botha aka Prince Osei Tutu, a
travel and tour operator and Assistant
Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Edwin Adjetey
Doku, who are already standing trial before the
court for the same offence.

Other suspects are ASP William Danyi Kooyaarah,
Insp Kinsgford Fofie, D/Sgt Richmond Ofori,
PW/D/L/CPL Augusta Kesseh Asamoah, G/CPL Dominic
Owusu, PW/D/L/CPL Esterlyn Baffour Awuah,
PW/D/L/CPL Cynthia Manu, G/L/CPL Prince Addo,
G/L/CPL Andrews Anning and PW/D/L/CPL Yvonne
Sarpong, all police personnel.

The others are AI William Najimi, ICO-1 Janet
Aboagye, ICO-1 Jerry Nyarko, AICO II Augustine
Asare Appiah and AICO II Grace Nkulenu Sabia Akua
– immigration officers.

Botha is alleged to have, with the connivance of
the above mentioned security officers, secured
uniforms for civilians to pose as security
personnel to acquire visas at the American
Embassy.

When the case came up for hearing in the court
presided over by Justice Bright Mensah yesterday,
the prosecution said the other accused persons
would be added to the two already on trial, as the
Attorney-General (A-G) had ordered that the 15
police and immigration officers should be
prosecuted.

The court accordingly adjourned hearing of the
case to June 23, 2015.

Botha was represented by Charles Pouzuing.

Ms Winifred Sarpong, in the advice on the case
docket dated April 23, 2015, forwarded to the
A-G’s department, said the suspects must be
charged.

She said: “Having looked at the totality of the
evidence on the case docket, it is my opinion that
there is sufficient evidence to charge all the
suspects.”

Ms Sarpong stated that Botha be charged with
forgery of official documents and abetment of
crime, namely, defrauding by false pretences.

She further directed that Insp Fofie, D/Sgt Ofori,
G/CPL Owusu, PW/D/L/CPL Baffour Awuah, G/L/CPL
Addo, G/L/CPL Anning, PW/D/L/CPL Sarpong, ICO-1
Aboagye, ICO-1 Jerry Nyarko and AICO II Sabia Akua
should all be charged with defrauding by false
pretences.

According to the advice, PW/D/L/CPL Asamoah,
PW/D/L/CPL Manu and AI Najimi must also be charged
with impersonation contrary to Section 134 of the
Criminal Offences Act of 1960, while ASI Adjetey
Doku and AICO II Asare Appiah should each be
charged with abetment of crime, namely, defrauding
by false pretences.

In respect of ASP Kooyaarah, the state does not
wish to press charges against him.

Source - Daily Guide

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