Accra, June 1, GNA - Kojo Asante, a car sprayer, on Tuesday appeared before an Accra Regional Tribunal for collecting 4,600 US Dollars from a businessman under the pretext of securing a US visa for him.

Asante pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and defrauding by false pretences and was admitted to bail. He will reappear on June 10.

Yaw Paul and one Alex who are accomplices in the case are on the run.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Mary Agboso told the court, presided over by Mr. Justice Frank Mainoo that the complainant, Mr. Samuel Owusu Asiamah is a teacher at Asante Akyem, while the accused lives in Accra.

Chief Inspector Agboso said when Mr. Asiamah and his family were discussing the journey, Asante happened to hear it and therefore, approached Mr. Asiamah that he could assist him to secure genuine visa to enable him to travel to the United States.

Chief Inspector Agboso said the accused later took the complainant and his brother to Abeka Lapaz, where they met Yaw and Alex, saying the three persons then collected 4,600 dollars from complainant and pledged to secure the visa in two weeks time.

She said after collecting the money, they failed to produce the genuine visa, and rather provided a photocopy of a fake visa to the complainant.

She said Asante, Yaw and Alex then went into hiding and efforts by Mr. Asiamah to retrieve all his money failed, hence a report was made to the police who managed to arrest Asante, while the two accused persons absconded.

Chief Inspector Agboso said at the time of prosecuting them, they had refunded 1,800 dollars.