A 45-year-old unemployed woman, Faustina Foli, has been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a man of GH¢265,000 under the pretense of securing United States visas for his daughter and three relatives.
Charged with Defrauding by False Pretence under Section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Foli pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecution, led by DSP Isaac Acquandah, Foli allegedly deceived the complainant, Daniel Acquaye, in October 2024 by claiming she could facilitate the visa process. Despite knowing her claims were false, she allegedly convinced Acquaye to pay the substantial amount.
During the hearing, presided over by His Honour Isaac Addo, Foli’s bail application was denied. The judge cited the seriousness of the charges and her history of jumping bail in a previous case handled by the Weija Police.
Foli has been remanded into custody and is expected to reappear in court on December 10, 2024.
Brief Facts
DSP Isaac Acquandah told the court that the complainant in the case is Daniel Acquay an insurance officer residing at Bortianor whiles the accused Faustina Foli is unemployed and a resident of Ablekuma.
During the month of October 2024, the accused person presented to the complainant that her fiancée Charles Agbele works at the Canadian High Commission and is in the capacity of securing a protocol Canadian and United States of America Visa for interested applicants at a reduced cost with less stress.
The accused person further showed copies of Canadian visas to the complainant which she claimed her fiancé has secured for interested applicants.
Upon such representations, the complainant became convinced and expressed interest in securing Canadian and United States of America Visa for his daughter and Three (3) other relatives.
The accused person then demanded and collected various sums of monies amounting to Two Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢265,000.00) as cost of securing them the visas.
The accused person upon receiving the amount in question, promised delivering the visas within a month.
However, after the accused person receiving the money and passports of the
applicants went into hiding and several efforts to reach her proved futile.
The complainant suspected a foul play and then reported to the Police for assistance.
The accused person was subsequently arrested and an investigation caution statement was obtained from her, during which she admitted having collected the said amount from the complainant and further mentioned that, she was instructed by Charles Agbele ‘the supposed’ fiancé to hand over same amount received from the complainant to Kojo.
Meanwhile, the accused person failed to provide Police with the necessary information to assist investigations.
Based on that, her assertions were
considered as mere fabrications.
However, investigations are being extended to the Canadian High Commission to find out whether or not the said Charles Agbele is a staff.
The court further heard that, the accused also indicated in her cautioned statement that she is a Togolese National, however, a search conducted on her led to the retrieval of a Ghana Card bearing her name, Faustina Foli with identification number, GHA 000157410-2.
The accused person does not have a permanent place of abode.
The case is still under investigation.