An Accra Circuit Court has acquitted and discharged Silvia Naa Doudu Wristberg and Nicodemus Quarshie, accused of defrauding a businessman of GH₵60,380 under the guise of securing Canadian visas.
The ruling, delivered by Judge Isaac Addo, found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, the two were cleared of conspiracy and defrauding by false pretenses.
Case Details
Silvia Wristberg, an unemployed woman from Cape Coast, and Nicodemus Quarshie, a radio presenter, were accused alongside a third suspect, Patrick Torto, who remains at large.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, presented two witnesses but failed to provide compelling evidence. The defendants testified in their defense but did not call additional witnesses.
The complainant, Justice Kofi Buah, a travel and tour operator based in Spintex, alleged that in March 2023, he was contacted by Torto and Quarshie.
The pair claimed to be protocol officers with the ability to secure Canadian visas for Buah’s clients. Wristberg, meanwhile, claimed to be an aide to Ghana’s First Lady, further lending credibility to their scheme.
The accused demanded and collected a total of GH₵60,380 in cash and mobile money transfers, as well as 18 passports, under the pretense of facilitating the visa process.
However, when Buah attempted to verify the visas at the Office of the President Annex in Ridge, he discovered that the accused had provided false identities and were not affiliated with any government offices.
Arrests and Investigations
Wristberg was arrested in Cape Coast following intelligence reports, while Torto evaded capture. The accused were identified by Buah as the alleged perpetrators, and investigations revealed their names on national security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ wanted lists for similar fraudulent activities.
Despite these allegations, the court ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to secure a conviction.
Third Suspect Still At Large
The third accused, Patrick Torto, remains on the run, with law enforcement agencies continuing their search.
This acquittal underscores the need for stronger evidence in fraud cases, particularly those involving public trust and national security concerns.
