The Accra Circuit Court presided over by Judge Isaac Addo remanded thirty four year old suspect identified as Eric Owusu on charges of defrauding by false pretenses and money laundering. According to a report from Graphic Online the suspect allegedly collected varying sums of money from over twenty individuals who sought to study in countries including the United Kingdom and Canada.
Prosecutors told the court that the suspect claimed to be a representative of the Scholarship Secretariat with the authority to facilitate government funded educational opportunities abroad. GhanaWeb reported that the victims were allegedly instructed to pay fees for processing documents and travel arrangements before realizing the promised scholarships did not exist.
A report from GNA news agency indicates that the prosecution requested more time to conclude investigations as some victims have yet to provide official statements. The court heard that the total amount involved reached approximately five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis which the suspect allegedly used for personal gain according to police records mentioned in courtroom proceedings.
Official statements from the Ghana Police Service suggest the suspect was apprehended following multiple reports filed at various police stations within the Greater Accra Region. The court refused the application for bail submitted by the defense counsel and scheduled the next hearing for the middle of next month as the trial continues.