The Accra Circuit Court Nine has granted a travel consultant GH¢100,000 bail with two sureties for allegedly defrauding a tour operator of $15,000.

Margius Adjei, 47, is accused of taking the money, equivalent to GH¢225,000, from a travel and tour operator under the guise of obtaining Nicaraguan visas for his clients.

Adjei initially pleaded guilty with an explanation to the charge of defrauding by false pretense, but his explanation led to a not-guilty plea. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Raymond Ackom told the court that the complainant, Arahman Bashiru, is the Chief Executive Officer of Rashman Travel and Tours and resides in Madina.

In May 2023, Bashiru contacted a witness to secure travel documents for his clients, who subsequently introduced Adjei to him.

ASP Ackom said that after a conversation, Adjei promised to secure Nicaraguan visas for 20 of Bashiru’s clients within three months. Bashiru, convinced by the promise, gave Adjei $15,000 to obtain the required documents for his clients.

The prosecution said Adjei failed to fulfill his part of the deal after receiving the money and went into hiding, prompting Bashiru to petition the Director of the Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigative Department, which led to Adjei's arrest. ASP Ackom said Adjei admitted collecting GH¢225,000 from Bashiru and refunded GH¢30,000. After investigations, Adjei was arraigned.