A female pastor and trader have been arraigned in Accra Regional Court on charges of defrauding two hairdressers of GHC 33,000.00.
Vivian Norman, a clergyman and Isaac Asare, a trader, allegedly raised money to help them obtain Albanian visas for these hairdressers so that they could travel to any European country in search of greener pastures but without success.
Asare has been charged with two counts of felony criminal mischief.
Vivian faces a charge of aggravated robbery.
They have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have been granted GHC30,000 bail and two warrants will be obtained.
They are expected to appear again on August 2 before a court headed by Afia Owusua Appiah.
Commenting on the facts of the case, Inspector Wisdom Alorwu said plaintiffs Sedro Esinam Venessa and Celestine Kpetsigo were hairdressers living in Abelemkpe, Accra.
Prosecutors said Asare lived in Ablekuma and Vivian lived in Oyarifa.
It said in June 2021, the plaintiffs wanted to travel to any European country in search of greener pastures.
The prosecutor said that the complainants approached Vivian, their pastor, and informed them that Asare knew her as a person who helped people traveling abroad.
It said Vivian then introduced Asare to the plaintiffs and assured them of obtaining Albanian visas at a cost of GHC50,000 per applicant.
Prosecutors said the suspects assured the complainants that they would pay for the processing of their visas which would be ready within a month.
He said Asare had collected GHC22,800 and GHC10,200 from Esinam and Celestine respectively.
Asare said, after collecting money he was unable to obtain a visa and went into hiding.
On December 16, 2021, the defendants met with the plaintiffs in the church grounds and the two defendants had a written obligation that their visas would be valid one month later.
But the suspects did not live up to their promise, and on February 7, this year, it was reported in the Regional Criminal Investigations, in Accra.
Prosecutors said Asare was involved in a similar case and was being held at the Accra Central police station where he was identified by the complainants.
When Asare was arrested, he referred to another Isaac Asante as a colleague.
Vivian was lured into custody by the police.
Prosecutors said efforts were being made to arrest the alleged Asante.