Man sells house for fake US Visa

A businessman is currently in a dilemma trying to make amends to his life after he sold his three-bedroom house to pay for a purported United States visa that turned out to be a scam.

The businessman, Prince Kwabena, reported the matter to the police after realizing he had been duped by Osei Kwaku and Kwadwo Kusi, businessmen, who made him sell his house under the pretext of relocating him to U.S.

The businessman was one of the three relatives of the female complainant who were to be assisted by the accused persons to get a visa to U.S.

The accused persons, Osei Kwaku and Kwadwo Kusi, after the act, went into hiding, but were arrested from their hideout and currently have been charged at an Accra Circuit court presided over by Patience Mills-Tetteh.

When the matter was called on Friday, November 30, Kwadwo Kusi was charged with defrauding by false pretence. He pleaded not guilty and was granted a GH¢25,000 bail with two sureties.

The court issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Osei Kwaku, who was absent. He was charged with abetment of crime.

The prosecutor, DSP Abraham Annor, informed the court that the complainants and the witnesses in the case are nurses and businessmen.

The complainant, reportedly, was domiciled in USA and witnesses, including the businessman who has been duped, lived in Kumasi and Obuasi.

The accused persons, according to the prosecutor, were businessmen and very good friends.

He narrated that the complainant, Lucy Sam and Osei Kwaku have been childhood friends. Osei Kwaku reportedly introduced Kwadwo Kusi to the complainant as someone who could secure U.S. entry visa for any interested person.

Kwadwo Kusi claimed to have an insider in the U.S. embassy in Ghana who usually facilitated the visa acquisition for him.

This therefore allegedly convinced the complainant who requested that Kwadwo Kusi secure three visas for three of her relatives who were interested in travelling to the USA.

Kwadwo Kusi allegedly, collected GH¢21,000 as the cost of the US visas from the three applicants.

The prosecutor disclosed that prior to the payment of the money, one of the applicants, Prince Kwabena called and informed Kwadwo Kusi that although he was interested in travelling, he had no means of raising such an amount and that he should allow him to go and work so he could raise the money to pay him.

However, Kwadwo Kusi allegedly objected to the idea.

Prince as a result of this, according to the prosecutor, sold his three bedroom house at Obuasi at the cost of GH¢20,000 before getting the money to pay the accused.

After selling the house, Kwabena rented a room where he lived temporarily with the wife.

Later, Kusi informed Prince that his visa was ready and so he should pack bag and baggage to Accra to embark on the journey.

In preparation for that, Kwabena vacated his rented apartment, sold all his home appliances, moved his wife to her mother’s house and set off to Accra.

Kusi allegedly, directed Prince to come and meet him at a spot at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

When Prince got to the place and called Kusi, he failed to respond.

After sometime, Kusi put off his phone and left Prince stranded at the airport. Prince then reported the matter to the police.

Kusi was arrested from his hideout but he admitted having collected only GH¢14,000.