An Accra Circuit Court has approved a bail of GHC50,000.00 (over €3700) along with two sureties for a 31-year-old businessman, Faisal Moro Mohammed. The accused is facing charges of allegedly defrauding a woman named Mercy Sarfo of USD5,000, all under the false promise of facilitating a German visa for her.
Faisal denied the accusations, asserting his innocence and contesting any breach of trust in his dealings with Madam Mercy. The court date for this case is set for February 29, 2024.
During the court proceedings, Police Chief Inspector Daniel Danku provided additional details, stating that Mercy Sarfo, the complainant, is a resident of Odorkor and a trader. At the same time, Faisal Moro Mohammed, the accused, is a businessman residing in Dansoman.
As the authorities revealed, in 2020, Alhaji Razak, a travel agent, introduced the complainant to Faisal Moro Mohammed. On May 4, 2023, Alhaji Razak informed the complainant of a lucrative travel opportunity to Germany via Greece, costing USD 7,000, including passport and documents.
The complainant, showing interest, received a call from Faisal the same day. In addition, on May 5, 2023, they met at Aflao station and, along with other clients, travelled to Nigeria.
Faisal collected USD 2,000 and the complainant’s passport to initiate the visa process. Later, he demanded an additional USD 3,000. Seeking help, the complainant informed a witness in Ghana, who handed over USD 3,000 to a dispatch rider named Mohammed on May 6, 2023.
Faisal, acknowledging the funds received in Nigeria, collected GHC 2,000 as a visa fee. Despite two months in Nigeria, Faisal still needs to secure the promised visa. During investigations, Faisal admitted to the charges, requesting time to refund the money to the complainant. The case sheds light on a complex web of promises, financial transactions, and unfulfilled expectations in travel services.
In January, authorities in India also apprehended five individuals for submitting fraudulent documents in their applications for a Germany Schengen Visa. A report from an advisor at the German Consulate General prompted the detection of these fake documents.
The advisor, specializing in Schengen visa matters, uncovered that the five individuals had submitted false documents in an attempt to enter Germany and the Schengen Area territory irregularly. Moreover, the falsified documents included fake visa stamps on their passports, evidently an effort to avoid arousing suspicion.
