The Adabraka District Court (formerly Kaneshie District Court) has granted a 51-year-old man GH¢30,000 bail with two sureties for allegedly defrauding an immigration officer under the pretext of securing him a room.  

One of the sureties of Nana Obeng Tandoh is to be justified, said the court, presided over by Nana Abena Asoh Owusu-Omenyo.  

Tandoh pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences, and he is to reappear on October 30, 2025.  

Police Chief Inspector Apewah Achana told the court that the complainant, Mumuni Labaran, an Immigration Officer, did not have a fixed place of abode.

The accused, a civil engineer, was also said to have no permanent residence.  

The prosecution said Mr Labaran was transferred to Accra and needed accommodation for his new posting.   

In June 2025, he was introduced to the accused through an accommodation agent for assistance in renting a room.  

Tandoh, who claimed to have several apartments available for rent, took the complainant to one at Dzorwulu, Accra, which was nearing completion.   

After inspecting the room, the complainant expressed interest, and the accused collected GH¢24,000 from him as one year’s rent advance, promising to complete the room within a month.  

However, the prosecution said the accused failed to deliver on his promise and subsequently went into hiding.  

In his efforts to trace the accused to recover his money, the complainant discovered that he was one of several victims whom Tandoh had allegedly defrauded using the same apartment.  

Chief Inspector Achana said on September 19, 2025, Tandoh was arrested by the Nima Divisional CID in connection with a similar offence.  

 Following the arrest, the complainant lodged a formal complaint against him.  

During investigations, the accused reportedly admitted to the offence in his cautioned statement.   

Further investigations revealed that multiple victims had fallen prey to the same scheme, in which the accused collected rent advances for apartments he did not own or control.  

After completion of investigations, Tandoh was charged and arraigned.