Kumasi, May 15, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court on Monday granted a 28-year-old travel and tour agent based in Accra a 200 million cedis bail with a surety for defrauding five persons of 158 million cedis. Shadrack Mensah, who pleaded not guilty, will re-appear on June 13. Police Chief Inspector Archibald Kusi Fandoh told the court that the complainant, Mr Ebenezer Sarpong, is a nurse at Agogo Presbyterian Hospital and the accused, an agent for Brokland Travel and Tour in Accra.

In February Mr Sarpong intended traveling with his brothers, Richard Debrah, Evans Debrah, James Cobbina and his sister Emelia Yeboah to join their mother in the United States but they had difficulties acquiring visa.

Mr Fandoh said one Mina in Accra introduced them to the Sarpong as an Immigration Officer who could assist them to acquire visa for a fee. He said the accused then promised to assist them and requested that they should each pay 5,000 dollars.

The prosecutor said the accused then collected various sums of money from the complainant and his siblings at both Agogo and Accra amounting to 158 million cedis for the processes.

He told them in March that Sarpong should be ready to fly first as his travel documents and visa were ready.

The prosecution said Mensah took Sarpong to the Kotoka International Airport, led him through departure procedures and he boarded a flight to Dubai en-route to the US.

Chief Inspector Fandoh said Sarpong was sent back to Accra because his visa was found to be fake.

He said the complainant confronted the accused with his siblings but Mensah claimed that his co-agent, one Boat in Accra, acquired the travel documents and visa. He pleaded to refund the amount to the complainant but failed and a report was made to the police and he was arrested. 15 May 07