Musician held over fraud granted GH¢200,000.00 bail

Accra, GNA – A 29-year-old blogger and Musician accused of defrauding a trader of 21,000 Euros under the pretext of securing her two Italian passports and Resident Identity Cards, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢200,000.00 by an Accra Circuit Court.

Jacklin Sarfo Gyamfua a.k.a. Ohemaa Jackie, is facing charges of defrauding by false pretences and forgery of official documents.

Gyamfua has denied the charges.

At today’s sitting, Detective Inspector Frederick Sarpong opposed to bail on the grounds that investigations had been extended to the Italian and the Ghana Immigration Service.

Inspector Sarpong said the Police had written to the two institutions and they were awaiting their response.

Mr Peter Sarfo Antwi, counsel for Gyamfua, prayed the Court to admit his client to bail on the grounds that the information being sought by the prosecution from the two institutions could delay.

According to Mr Antwi, his client could be on remand while those pieces information were being sought for adding that “even if it would take about two years, then my client would have to be on remand for those years.”

Defence counsel recalled that “the constitution speaks of the presumption of the innocence of an accused person”.

He said accused was taking care of his ailing husband who has brain tumour and accused would be needed to offer her husband quality care.

According to him, his client had people who would stand as sureties for her and she would cooperate with investigators.

Prosecution in response to defence counsel’s submission, informed the court that the bail conditions should be such that accused would appear to stand trial.

The Court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah ordered prosecution to file their witness statement by way of disclosures.

The matter has been adjourned to 0ctober 14.

Presenting the facts, Police Detective Inspector Sarpong said the complainant Barbara Adu Boahen, resided at Accra whiles Gyamfua was a dual resident of London and Accra.

Prosecution said during the month of February this year, the complainant and a witness in the case saw the accused running adverts on social media platforms purporting to be securing travelling documents and resident ID cards for every country within the European Union (EU).

The Prosecutor said the complainant who was interested in travelling to Italy, contacted the accused on her phone posted against the accused person’s Facebook advertisement.

Police Detective Inspector Sarpong said Gyamfua promised to secure two Italian passports and two Resident ID cards for the complainant and her daughter at a fee of 24,000 Euros.

Prosecution said Gyamfua then gave the complainant her Access Bank Account bearing the name Afua Serwa Dwamena and UMB account bearing the name Lord men’s Enterprise and requested the complainant to pay the 24,000 Euros into the aforementioned accounts.

According to the Prosecutor, the complainant paid 21,000 Euros into the accounts provided by the accused.

Police Detective Inspector said Gyamfua later provided two forged Italian passports and two Resident ID cards for the complainant and her daughter.

On March 30, this year, prosecution said the complainant presented the passports at the Kotoka International Airport but they were arrested for presenting fake passports.

Prosecution said a report was made to the Police at the National Signal Bureau/ National Security.

On September 8, this year, Gyamfua was arrested and during a search in her house, two forged Italian passports and two Resident ID Cards were found.

Prosecution said the accused and her husband had issued stern verbal warning to the complainant and a principal witness to stay off the case else they risked being dealt with.

GNA

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