A 34-year-old male nurse has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly collecting GH¢257,000 under the pretext of securing a United Kingdom visa for a trader but failing to do so.

Justice Kofi Boateng, who has been charged with defrauding by false pretences, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court, presided over by Justice Kofi Boateng, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of GH¢150,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be justified. The court further ordered the accused to deposit all travelling documents, including his passport, with the court registry and to report to the police once every two weeks.

The case has been adjourned to March 24, 2026.

Earlier, counsel for the accused prayed the court to grant bail, describing his client as a professional nurse with a fixed place of abode. Counsel told the court that the accused was married with children and had persons willing to stand as sureties.

The prosecutor, Inspector Frederick Asare, opposed the bail application, arguing that the accused had no fixed place of abode and was a student nurse who was arrested at a hospital.

According to the prosecution’s case, the complainant, Beatrice Asante, is a trader and resident of Amasaman, while the accused is a nurse who resides at Dansoman.

In May 2025, the complainant informed a friend, Louisa, who lives in the United Kingdom, of her intention to travel there in search of better opportunities. The complainant and her husband, Dickson Junior Sarfo, later contacted the accused and met him at Latebiokorshie, where discussions were held.

During the meeting, Boateng allegedly confirmed information provided by Louisa and presented himself as the Director of JB Travel and Tour, a company he claimed had successfully secured UK visas for students and nurses working in the United Kingdom with permanent residency.

He further represented that he had access to a United Kingdom Certificate of Sponsorship, which came with a five-year work visa at a cost of GH¢280,000 for one applicant.

Convinced by the representation, the complainant paid GH¢250,000 into a Fidelity Bank account provided by the accused. Boateng later instructed the complainant to submit her application documents and biometrics at the VFS Visa Application Centre at Airport Residential Area in Accra.

A few weeks later, the accused allegedly demanded an additional GH¢7,000 to pay for a United Kingdom residence permit, which the complainant paid via MTN Mobile Money to a number, 0242169747, registered in the name of Justice Kofi Boateng.

Subsequently, the complainant received an email from the United Kingdom Embassy informing her that her visa application had been refused. She later realised that the application did not include a Certificate of Sponsorship, contrary to the earlier representations allegedly made by the accused.

Suspecting foul play, the complainant reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of Boateng. In his caution statement, the accused admitted collecting a total of GH¢257,000 from the complainant for the purpose of securing a Certificate of Sponsorship.